After President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, former slaves took on a new role in American society. This role was one of more significance and self worth than in slavery, but this class of freedmen was anything but appreciated. Without the manpower of the slaves, the south's agricultural society would fail, and without the agriculture there would be little money or food in the south.Since civil war times, African Americans have faced many circumstances of prejudice, racism and segregation in the United States. This poor treatment made it difficult for blacks to achieve political, economic and social equality. The civil rights movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s provided the dramatic change needed in order to consummate equal rights for blacks. Certain tactics initiated by such people as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, led to events like the civil rights act of 1964 and the voting rights act 1965 which collectively helped there cause. Civil Disobedience, the use of the court system and peaceful protests were some of the strategies used to acquire equality.The march in Selma, Alabama on March 7, 1965, is a perfect example of how equal rights protestors used Civil Disobedience to get what they wanted. Civil disobedience was often a popular tactic used at this time, Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. had faith in his beliefs of equality, and that all people, regardless of race should be free and governed under the same laws. he chose to fight in a non-traditional way. Rather than giving the white people the pleasure of participating in violent confrontations, King believed if they fought without violence for their rights, they would have a faster success rateHe gathered together his group of supporters and volunteers. They were trained daily before they began to protest, not on how to fight back to the physical attacks they would receive, but to be prepared for the physical abuse they would have ...
