Think about how the civil rights movement took shape in the 1950s. The difficulties of confronting a deeply ingrained social order like segregation were significant, and challenging that order often meant very real risks, including death. Nonetheless, in events like the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955, the sit-in wave that began in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1960, and uncountable “freedom rides” and public marches, civil rights activists—led mostly by Blacks but with substantial help from White allies—successfully challenged the old order. Consider the difficulties civil rights activists faced in organizing at the grassroots and convincing national-level political leaders to support the cause.

Write an essay (400 words minimum) that explains how civil rights advocates successfully challenged and overthrew the system of segregation. Your essay should discuss the factors that led to increased activism and solidarity at the grassroots level, as well as the role that elected officials within the federal government played in guaranteeing citizenship rights to all Americans.