The US Civil Rights Movements

Pick ONE of the US Civil Rights Movements (African American, Feminism, Latinx, American Indian, LGBTQ, Disability Rights). Provide me with at least five key events of the Movement, the events that led up to those key events, and where the Movement succeeded and failed. Be specific in your response using evidence from your textbook, primary source readings, lectures, videos to support your argument.

Full Answer Section
  1. The Civil Rights Act of 1964: This law prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It was a major victory for the civil rights movement, but it did not end segregation overnight.
  2. The Voting Rights Act of 1965: This law prohibited discrimination in voting, and it helped to increase voter registration among African Americans.
  3. The Black Power Movement (1966-1975): This movement was a more radical approach to the civil rights movement, and it called for self-determination and black pride.

Events that led up to the key events:

The African American Civil Rights Movement was a long and complex struggle, and there were many events that led up to the key events listed above. Some of the most important events include:

  • The end of slavery in the United States (1865): This was a major victory for African Americans, but it did not end the struggle for equality.
  • The Jim Crow laws (1876-1965): These laws enforced segregation and discrimination against African Americans in the South.
  • The Great Migration (1910-1970): This was a mass movement of African Americans from the South to the North, in search of better opportunities.
  • The Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954): This Supreme Court decision ruled that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.

Where the movement succeeded and failed:

The African American Civil Rights Movement was a success in many ways. It helped to end segregation, discrimination, and violence against African Americans. It also helped to increase voter registration and political participation among African Americans. However, the movement also had some failures. For example, it did not completely end poverty and inequality among African Americans. Additionally, the Black Power Movement was sometimes criticized for its use of violence and separatism.

Overall, the African American Civil Rights Movement was a major turning point in American history. It helped to achieve significant progress in the struggle for equality for African Americans. However, there is still more work to be done to achieve true equality for all people.

Sample Answer

Here is an overview of the African American Civil Rights Movement, with five key events, the events that led up to them, and where the movement succeeded and failed.

Key events:

  1. The Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956): Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man, sparking a boycott of the bus system by African Americans in Montgomery, Alabama. The boycott lasted for over a year and ended with the Supreme Court ruling that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional.
  2. The March on Washington (1963): Over 250,000 people marched on Washington, D.C. to demand civil rights for African Americans. The march was led by Martin Luther King, Jr., who delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.