The Civil Rights Movement

The Civil Rights Movement | National Leaders Played the Most Important Role in the Civil Rights Movement

As contemporary historians debate the many facets of the American civil rights movement—its origins and legacy, for example— one line of scholarship has centered on the role of presidents, lawmakers, and other national leaders in the creation of a more equitable society. Among the leading scholars of civil rights history is Steven F. Lawson, professor of history at Rutgers University. In Lawson’s view, the federal government—in tandem with national organizations and leaders—played a crucial role in the civil rights movement through the creation of decisive civil rights...

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