In the 1950s and 1960s, civil rights movements were taking

place as many were questioning the established social order and

segregation in the US. Many African American leaders were protesting
for and fighting for more rights, with protest and actions such as the
Montgomery Bus Boycott. These actions and protest showed the power
of blacks and helped push the government to pass legislation to give
them more rights. Supreme Court decisions and Congressional actions
during this time at first were at first intended to bring about change in
African Americans rights, but eventually enforced their rights, gave
them more rights, and set the stage for more equal rights into the
future.
Many Americans opposed civil rights movement, and blacks
equality. They wished for the social order to remain as it had for
centuries: with the whites at the top, and blacks having less equality.
However, the US government recognized the need and desire of some
people, for change. The government tried to appease both sides by
passing laws and court decisions that appeared to give blacks greater
equality, but truly didnt have a large impact on changing their rights.
One such example was the Brown v. Board of Education case. In this
case, the US Supreme Court ruled that segregated facilities for blacks
were inherently unequal, however they also ruled that desegregation
must occur with all deliberate speed. Thus, while appeasing blacks
by repealing the Plessy v Ferguson ruling, it also appeased whites
because it allowed for the desegregation to occur at a slow speed,
which wouldnt have a significant impact on blacks rights.
Blacks eventually began to gain more rights, as protests and
movements gained more speed, and more people pushed for equality.
Acts, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1957, enforced rights of blacks,
such as their voting rights, and had a significant change and impact in
bringing them more rights, Other actions, such as the integration of
Little Rock High School, enforced more of their rights.
Government rulings and actions during this time continue to give
blacks more rights, and allowed them to continue gaining more rights
into the future, The US Supreme Courts ruling in Brown v Board of
Education II enforced the first ruling and resulted in faster and more
complete desegregation. This set the stage for blacks to continue to
gain more rights during this time, even into the future. Other
government actions and ruling gave African Americans more rights,
such as more equal pay, and banning discrimination in jobs.
Although many people in the US opposed more rights for African
Americans, and the government was hesitant to make significant
changes regarding their rights at first, eventually legislation and court
rulings were passed that enforced African Americans rights, and
furthered their rights and equalities. These acts and rulings had a large
impact and created a significant change regarding African Americans
rights. Much of this change in government action, from not increasing

blacks rights, to taking action to increase blacks rights was due to

civil rights activists and leaders that protested for more rights, gaining
support. Some leaders include MLK, who created the SCLC and led
protest and speeches, such as the March on Washington, and Rosa
Parks, whose actions began the Montgomery Bus Boycott. African
Americans continued to gain more rights throughout the next several
decades, much due to the court rulings and acts of the 1950s and
1960s.