The civil rights movement (1955-1968) in the United States was a social, legal and political struggle by African-Americans against racial discrimination and to gain full citizenship rights. The civil rights movement started with a challenge to the system of segregation, setup after abolition of slavery. The movement was characterized by protest marches, boycotts, refusal to abide by segregation laws. It ended with the passage of series of notable legislations such as Civil Rights Act of 1964, Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1968.