What caused the civil rights movement to gain momentum?
There were several factors that caused the civil rights movement to gain momentum in the 1950s and 1960s:
1. Brown v. Board of Education (1954): This Supreme Court decision ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, sparking a push for desegregation in other aspects of society.
2. Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott: In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white person on a Montgomery bus, sparking a year-long boycott of the city's bus system by African Americans. This protest gained national attention and inspired others to take action.
3. Nonviolent protests and civil disobedience: Led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders, nonviolent protests and acts of civil disobedience brought attention to the injustices faced by African Americans in the United States.
4. Media coverage: Television and newspapers brought images of the civil rights movement to a national audience, raising awareness and mobilizing support for the cause.
5. Federal legislation: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were major pieces of legislation that aimed to end segregation and secure voting rights for African Americans, helping to fuel the momentum of the civil rights movement.