The Civil Rights Movement aimed to end racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans. It involved non-violent protests, demonstrations, and civil disobedience to bring national attention to the injustice of racial inequality. Key events and figures included the Montgomery Bus Boycott led by Martin Luther King Jr., the March on Washington where King delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965 that sought to overcome legalized racism.