1963 was a tumultuous year for the United States, as it saw the passage of several civil rights laws that had far-reaching implications. The year began with Martin Luther King Jr.'s “I Have a Dream” speech and the march on Washington, which helped galvanize support for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Additionally, John F. Kennedy's assassination that November shook the nation and paved the way for Lyndon B. Johnson's passage of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965. Together, these events made 1963 a year that changed the course of history and led to major advancements in civil rights.