9. The Civil Rights Movement and Massive Resistance (1950s-1960s)
The push for civil rights ignited fierce backlash across the South, where officials launched a campaign of massive resistance against federal efforts to end segregation. Southern leaders invoked ‘interposition’—the idea that states could block federal laws—and at times openly defied court orders. Schools were shuttered and protests erupted, testing the limits of federal power and national unity. Despite intense confrontation, the nation held together, and landmark reforms pushed the country toward a more just future. Learn more
