- Grassroots organizing: The movement was built on the efforts of thousands of ordinary people who organized protests, boycotts, and other actions to challenge segregation and discrimination.
- Legal challenges: The movement also used the courts to challenge segregation and discrimination. Landmark Supreme Court cases like Brown v. Board of Education (1954) and Loving v. Virginia (1967) helped to dismantle the legal framework of segregation and discrimination.
- Political action: The movement also worked to elect officials who supported civil rights. This included the election of John F. Kennedy in 1960, who made civil rights a priority of his administration, and the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
- International pressure: The movement also received support from the international community. The United Nations condemned racial discrimination and the United States was under pressure to improve its human rights record.
The civil rights movement was a long and difficult struggle, but it ultimately succeeded in achieving its goal of ending legal segregation and discrimination. The movement's legacy continues to shape the United States today, and its lessons continue to inspire people around the world who are fighting for justice and equality.