How did the Civil Rights Movement affect federalism?

The Civil Rights Movement had a profound impact on the relationship between state and federal governments, significantly increasing federal intervention in state policies regarding civil rights. Before the movement, many states enforced discriminatory laws that upheld segregation and denied basic rights to African Americans and other minority groups. The Civil Rights Movement brought national attention to these injustices and prompted a demand for change.

As activists staged protests and campaigns, the federal government began to become more involved in civil rights issues. This culminated in landmark legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, both of which prohibited discrimination and enforced rights at a national level. These laws created a framework for federal oversight of state policies, ensuring that states could not enact laws that would infringe upon the civil rights of individuals.

This shift represents a significant strengthening of federal authority over states in the realm of civil rights, demonstrating how social movements can catalyze substantial changes in the federal structure by expanding federal power when state policies fail to uphold constitutional rights. Thus, the Civil Rights Movement effectively transformed federalism by establishing that the federal government has a role in guaranteeing civil rights across all states.