Paper Prompt – Social Movements and the African American Civil Rights Movement

The United States has a long history of social movements that have struggled to attain civil

rights and other protections for numerous marginalized groups. Among the most well-

documented American social movements is the African American Civil Rights Movement

of the 1950s and 1960s. Answer the following questions about social movements and the

African American Civil Rights Movement:

1) Discuss what a social movement is, why social movements form, and the strategies

social movements use to try and achieve change.

2) What are civil rights? In what ways were the civil rights of African Americans

violated by the United States government and state governments after the passage

of the Civil War amendments? What were some of the key accomplishments of the

African American Civil Rights movement?

3) Although the African American Civil Rights movement achieved some important

goals set out by its leaders, the United States continues to struggle with the legacies

of slavery, segregation, and racism. Additionally, many other groups in U.S. society

are marginalized due to their race or other identity characteristics. How does race

still affect the lives of many Americans today? What policies should the

government pursue to try and advance the cause of civil rights in American society?