What was the purpose of the Selma march in 1965?

Fifty years ago, on March 7, 1965, hundreds of people gathered in Selma, Alabama to march to the capital city of Montgomery. They marched to ensure that African Americans could exercise their constitutional right to vote — even in the face of a segregationist system that wanted to make it impossible.

What did the Selma to Montgomery march achieve?

Selma March, also called Selma to Montgomery March, political march from Selma, Alabama, to the state’s capital, Montgomery, that occurred March 21–25, 1965. Together, these events became a landmark in the American civil rights movement and directly led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

What was the purpose of the march on Selma and how did it bring about the Voter rights Act?

The purpose of the march was to push for voting rights legislation. On March 15, President Johnson announced to a joint session of Congress that he would bring them an effective voting rights bill. The Voting Rights Act was signed into law on August 6, 1965.

What were the three marches in Selma?

The Selma to Montgomery marches were three protest marches, held in 1965, along the 54-mile (87 km) highway from Selma, Alabama, to the state capital of Montgomery.

Who was the bridge in Selma named after?

Edmund Winston Pettus
The Edmund Pettus Bridge carries U.S. Route 80 Business (US 80 Bus.) across the Alabama River in Selma, Alabama. Built in 1940, it is named after Edmund Winston Pettus, a former Confederate brigadier general, U.S. senator, and state-level leader (“Grand Dragon”) of the Alabama Ku Klux Klan.

Is Selma a true story?

Such caution need not apply to Selma – Ava DuVernay’s fascinating biopic focused on civil rights leader Martin Luther King; it has been deemed 100% historically accurate.

Why is Selma named Selma?

Selma was incorporated in 1820. The city was planned and named as Selma by William R. King, a politician and planter from North Carolina who was a future vice president of the United States. The name, meaning ‘high seat’ or ‘throne’, came from the Ossianic poem The Songs of Selma.