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brown v. board of education
This landmark Supreme Court decision declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. It overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and set a legal precedent that would be used to challenge segregation in other areas, sparking momentum for more civil rights actions and legislation. -
Montgomery bus boycott
Sparked by Rosa Parks’ arrest, the boycott was a major grassroots protest against segregated transportation. It led to a Supreme Court ruling that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional and launched Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a national civil rights leader. -
March on Washington for jobs and freedom
Over 250,000 people gathered to demand civil and economic rights for African Americans. The powerful imagery and speeches, especially Dr. King’s, pressured Congress to take action, helping lead to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. -
civil rights act
This sweeping legislation outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination, marking a major legal victory for the movement. -
voting rights act
Following violent suppression of peaceful protesters in Selma (“Bloody Sunday”), national outrage helped push through this law. It banned racial discrimination in voting, a crucial step in ensuring political equality.