Offers in-depth analysis of a broad range of historical documents and historic events that shaped civil rights struggles in American history. This text closely studies more than forty primary source documents to deliver a thorough examination of civil rights movements in the U.S. from 1954 to 2015. Defining Documents in American History: Civil Rights provides detailed, thought-provoking analysis of: Controversies and actions at the Dawn of the Civil Rights Movement; Legal Challenges to Segregation; The Civil Rights Act and Its Consequences; Organizations and Leaders in the Movement; Gay Rights, Criminal Justice, and the Movement for Social Justice. An historical timeline and bibliography of important supplemental readings will support readers in understanding the broader historical events and subjects in the period. An introduction for each of the major subjects covered in the title considers the significance of document analysis for students and educators. Each in-depth chapter guides readers with historical insight and comprehension. The documents included represent the diversity of ideas and contexts that defined social, political, and cultural subjects throughout this period in American history.