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Civil Rights Era

By Jessica McElrath, About.com Guide to African-American History

Here you'll find information about the leaders, participants, and events that were a part of the civil rights movement.

  1. Civil Rights Movement Basics
  2. Jim Crow Laws
  3. Voting Rights
  4. Protest Movements/Events
  1. Leaders & Activists
  2. Organizations
  3. Photos
  4. Timelines

Civil Rights Movement Basics

The civil rights movement, which began in the late 1950s, was a nonviolent protest movement to end racial segregation in the South. Movement leaders sought change through a combination of methods, including legal redress, nonviolent demonstrations, and legislation.

Jim Crow Laws

Courtesy of the Library of Congress

Jim Crow laws were racial segregation laws in the South that were imposed on African Americans.

Voting Rights

Blacks were denied the right to vote through grandfather clauses, literacy tests, and poll taxes. Widespread disenfranchisement of blacks ended after the passage of the Voting Rights Act.

Protest Movements/Events

Courtesy of the Library of Congress

The success of the civil rights movement was in part a result of the protest movements that helped instigate change.

Leaders & Activists

Courtesy of the Library of Congress

The success of the civil rights movment was a result of the people who participated.

Organizations

Courtesy of Library of Congress

Out of the civil rights movement, emerged various organizations that served to promote and assist in civil rights goals.

Photos

Library of Congress, U.S. News & World Report Magazine Photograph Collection.

Photos of important events during the civil rights movement.

Timelines

Timelines of important people and events during the civil rights movement.

Jessica McElrath
Guide since 2000

Jessica McElrath
African-American History Guide

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