Final answer:
The Civil Rights Act of 1964, Brown v. Board of Education, and the Fourteenth Amendment are key historical milestones in the civil rights movement, which collectively ended legal segregation, guaranteed equal protection and outlawed discrimination based on race and gender.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a pivotal piece of legislation that played a crucial role in the civil rights movement. This act outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in various sectors including public accommodations, employment, and voting registration. It also established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to aid in the enforcement of federal employment discrimination laws.Brown v. Board of Education was a significant Supreme Court decision that ended the era of 'separate but equal' in public education, striking a blow to institutionalized racial segregation. Lastly, the Fourteenth Amendment was instrumental in laying the constitutional groundwork for equal protection under the law, which has been essential in numerous civil rights advancements.
The efforts to promote civil rights have taken many forms, from legislation like the 1968 Fair Housing Act which targeted discrimination in housing, to landmark court rulings and direct action by both activists and governmental leaders. These measures helped dismantle a long-standing system of segregation and discrimination, opening doors to equality and justice.