The Civil Rights Movement was the struggle by African-Americans in the 1950s and 1960s to achieve civil rights equal to those of Whites, including equal opportunity in employment, housing and education, as well as the right to vote, the right of equal access to public facilities, and the right to be free of racial discrimination. This movement sought to restore to African-Americans the right of citizenship guaranteed by the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments.

The three important features of 'Civil Rights Movement’ of USA during 1954-1968 are

(i) The African- American ‘Civil Rights Movement’ encompasses social movements in the United States during 1954-1968, which aimed at abolishing legal racial discrimination against African-Americans.

(ii) This movement, led by Martin Luther
King Jr. practised non-violent methods of civil disobedience against racially discriminatory laws and practices.

(iii) The movement was characterised by major
campaigns of civil resistance. Acts of non-violent protest and civil disobedience produced crisis situations between activists and government authorities.