The Civil Rights Movement
From Lisa Vox, former About.com Guide
African Americans began agitating for their civil rights in an organized fashion during the 19th century. From the abolitionist movement to modern-day struggles over affirmative action, here is an overview of the Civil Rights Movement in American history.
Early Civil Rights Movement
Even prior to the 1950s and 1960s, African Americans organized and planned to secure their rights in this country. Harriet Tubman rescued hundreds of slaves, while in the early 20th century, Marcus Garvey brought black nationalism to Harlem. Here are examples and events from that era.
Modern Civil Rights Movement
In the 1950s and 1960s, the strong African-American communities that had been built after the Civil War produced passionate leaders and organizers who spearheaded the modern Civil Rights Movement. Using non-violent techniques in the 1950s and early 1960s, they desegregated the South and changed American culture.