The African American civil rights movement helped bring about major social and economic changes in America. Social Legislation in the mid 1900's gave 18 million African Americans their citizenship rights after hundreds of years of racial discrimination and segregation. The civil rights movement pressed the American government to fulfill it's promise of inalienable rights to all citizens. This was an era of great change but (fused sentence) it shows that change in America has to be fought for and that it doesn't come easily.
Starting in the late 1800's, the southern states adopted Jim Crow Laws, which were a form of de jure segregation, or segregation by law. Jim Crow Laws mandated segregation based on color in public schools, transportation, …show more content…
In 1955, civil rights activist Rosa Parks boarded a bus in Montgomery, Alabama after a long day of work. The bus soon filled up and the bus driver requested she give up her seat to a white passenger and move to the back of the bus. Parks refused to relinquish the seat and was promptly arrested. Her arrest that day sparked a protest of the Montgomery bus system that became known as the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Several civil rights activists, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr (CCS) orchestrated the boycott and (CCS) 99% of the city's African American population refused to ride the city buses. The boycott continued for over a year despite attempted sabotages and violence. African Americans resumed riding the bus only after the Supreme Court ruled that segregated busing was unconstitutional. The boycott proved to be extremely successful and marked an important victory for the civil rights movement. After the Boycott, Martin Luther King Jr. and fellow activist leader Ralph Abernathy founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), a peaceful organization determined to fight racial …show more content…
This demonstration became known as the March on Washington and drew over 200,000 supporters. The highlight of this peaceful demonstration was when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his moving "I Have A Dream Speech." In his emotional speech he (complex) describes the "sweltering injustice" that African Americans have suffered from and promises that the Founding Fathers made to all Americans when they declared America a free country. He says that "It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned." He goes on to say that they (civil rights activists) will not relent until they have insured that their children are given the citizenship rights of all Americans. The passage of Kennedy's proposed bill would be a huge step toward attaining that
Starting in the late 1800's, the southern states adopted Jim Crow Laws, which were a form of de jure segregation, or segregation by law. Jim Crow Laws mandated segregation based on color in public schools, transportation, …show more content…
In 1955, civil rights activist Rosa Parks boarded a bus in Montgomery, Alabama after a long day of work. The bus soon filled up and the bus driver requested she give up her seat to a white passenger and move to the back of the bus. Parks refused to relinquish the seat and was promptly arrested. Her arrest that day sparked a protest of the Montgomery bus system that became known as the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Several civil rights activists, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr (CCS) orchestrated the boycott and (CCS) 99% of the city's African American population refused to ride the city buses. The boycott continued for over a year despite attempted sabotages and violence. African Americans resumed riding the bus only after the Supreme Court ruled that segregated busing was unconstitutional. The boycott proved to be extremely successful and marked an important victory for the civil rights movement. After the Boycott, Martin Luther King Jr. and fellow activist leader Ralph Abernathy founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), a peaceful organization determined to fight racial …show more content…
This demonstration became known as the March on Washington and drew over 200,000 supporters. The highlight of this peaceful demonstration was when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his moving "I Have A Dream Speech." In his emotional speech he (complex) describes the "sweltering injustice" that African Americans have suffered from and promises that the Founding Fathers made to all Americans when they declared America a free country. He says that "It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned." He goes on to say that they (civil rights activists) will not relent until they have insured that their children are given the citizenship rights of all Americans. The passage of Kennedy's proposed bill would be a huge step toward attaining that