The development of civil rights in US from 1954 to 1968

Abstract

The contribution is focused on the period of civil rights movement in the fifties and sixties of the 20th century. The doctrine of “separate, but equal” was overturned by the Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. This was followed by important legislation regarding civil rights that was passed in this period, such as Civil Rights Act of 1957, 1960, 1964, Voting Rights Act, Fair Housing Act). This legislation helped in the process of desegregation and equalization of Negros, but the most important role in this process played the Supreme Court of United States and his judicial activity. Progress was achieved also in the area of disenfranchisement: by the end of this period most of the African-American citizens were entitled to franchise.