The 1950s were a time for change. After several wars, both within itself and outside of itself, the U.S. needed to look at how it was living. African Americans were fed up with Jim Crow laws in the south and discrimination at work. There was always talk about equality since the abolishment of slavery, but in the 1950's, tensions rose to breaking point. What many consider to be the start to the Civil Rights Movement is when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in 1955. It was this catalyst that started demonstrations and boycotts across the U.S.
After the Supreme Court ruling of the Brown v. Board of Education case, public school segregation was deemed unconstitutional and outlawed. A group of black students known as the "Little Rock Nine" attempted to go to a public school which used to be an all-white school in Little Rock, Arkansas. Their attempt was met with much back lash and rioting, to the point where the president, Dwight Eisenhower, had to order federal troops to protect the students. Although the Civil Rights Movement continued into the 1960's, its last major event in the 1950's was in 1957. The Civil Rights Act of 1957, signed off on by Eisenhower, took a step toward ending voting discrimination by allowing the federal prosecution of anyone who attempts to hinder another person's ability to vote. Activism proceeded to pick up in the 60's, with new movements such as the anti-war movement.
After the Supreme Court ruling of the Brown v. Board of Education case, public school segregation was deemed unconstitutional and outlawed. A group of black students known as the "Little Rock Nine" attempted to go to a public school which used to be an all-white school in Little Rock, Arkansas. Their attempt was met with much back lash and rioting, to the point where the president, Dwight Eisenhower, had to order federal troops to protect the students. Although the Civil Rights Movement continued into the 1960's, its last major event in the 1950's was in 1957. The Civil Rights Act of 1957, signed off on by Eisenhower, took a step toward ending voting discrimination by allowing the federal prosecution of anyone who attempts to hinder another person's ability to vote. Activism proceeded to pick up in the 60's, with new movements such as the anti-war movement.