Skip to content
Know.itKnow.it
Create an animated lesson
On request

This article is free to read. Creating a lesson uses your daily or stored credits; review the language and settings before starting.

What was the civil rights movement?

HistoryLesson on requestFree to read

Quick answer

The civil rights movement was a struggle in the United States, peaking in the 1950s and 60s, to end racial segregation and discrimination against Black Americans. Through protest, courage, and law, it won landmark victories for equality and voting rights.

Key things to understand

  1. It fought to end racial segregation and discrimination in the US.
  2. It peaked in the 1950s and 1960s.
  3. It used nonviolent protest, marches, and legal challenges.
  4. It won major laws on civil rights and voting.

People also ask

What was the civil rights movement?
A US struggle, peaking in the 1950s–60s, to end racial segregation and secure equal rights for Black Americans.
Who were key figures in the civil rights movement?
Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and many activists and organizers.
What did the civil rights movement achieve?
Landmark laws like the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act, and major progress toward equality.