Final answer:
Civic engagement, educational initiatives, and grassroots activism played crucial roles in advancing the movement for voting rights. Actions like marching to polls, teaching literacy for voter exams, and lobbying for changes in legislation were pivotal in obtaining the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Step-by-step explanation:
The choices people made that allowed for forward momentum in the movement for voting rights during the civil rights era included various forms of civic engagement and activism. Women, particularly African American women, united communities to get people to the polls despite legal barriers before the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Creative strategies such as citizenship education schools were instrumental in teaching literacy to pass voter registration exams, enabling individuals to overcome discriminatory practices. Additionally, the larger-scale efforts, such as protests, speaking out against injustices, and lobbying government officials, directly influenced legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Individual actions also played a key role; local people in their communities fought for justice, including organizing, registering voters, and staging protests. Initiatives led by civil rights veterans like Septima Clark, as well as other influential individuals like Bernice Robinson, Amzie Moore, Victoria Grey, and Annie Divine, exemplify the grassroots activism that significantly contributed to the success of the civil rights movement. Together, they served as a force that compelled lawmakers to enact policies ensuring equal voting rights for all.