The Civil Rights Movement was a social and political movement in the United States from roughly 1954 to 1968 aimed at ending legalized racial segregation, discrimination, and disenfranchisement, primarily affecting African Americans. It sought to secure equal rights and protections under the law, which African Americans had been denied despite constitutional amendments after the Civil War

. The movement used nonviolent protests, civil disobedience, boycotts, sit- ins, marches, and legal challenges to confront systemic racism and segregation, especially in the southern states. Key events include the 1954 Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education that declared school segregation unconstitutional, and the 1963 March on Washington where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech

. It was a broad coalition involving African Americans and supporters of various races and religions, and it achieved significant legislative victories such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which outlawed discrimination in public accommodations, employment, and voting

. While the movement made profound legal and social progress, some challenges like economic inequality and residential segregation persisted beyond its peak. Its legacy lies in dismantling the Jim Crow system of racial apartheid and advancing the principle that all Americans should have equal citizenship rights

. In summary, the Civil Rights Movement was a pivotal campaign for racial justice and equality in mid-20th century America that combined grassroots activism with legal and political efforts to transform American society and law