Da VIP Academy / GED / Social Studies / U.S. History
Civil Rights Movement
Analyze the strategies, landmark rulings, and laws of the civil rights era.
How it works
Law and protest together
Brown v. Board (1954) ruled segregated schools unconstitutional. Boycotts, sit-ins, and marches created pressure that produced the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Nonviolent direct action
Organizers deliberately broke unjust laws in public, accepted arrest, and forced the country to confront the contradiction — the argument Dr. King defends in his Birmingham letter.
Worked examples
Why did the Montgomery Bus Boycott work?
- Black riders were most of the transit revenue.
- A sustained boycott created economic pressure.
- Combined with litigation, segregation on buses was struck down.
Words to know
- Civil disobedience
- Deliberately, publicly breaking a law believed unjust and accepting the penalty.
- Voting Rights Act
- 1965 law banning discriminatory voting practices.
Test-day tips
- • Expect a King, Brown v. Board, or 1965 Voting Rights Act document — know their arguments, not just their dates.