What key event in 1965 aimed to ensure voting rights for African Americans?

The Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965 were pivotal in the struggle for voting rights for African Americans. These marches were organized to protest the systemic disenfranchisement faced by Black voters in the South and to draw national attention to the issues of voter suppression. The marches began in Selma, Alabama, and culminated in Montgomery, the state capital, to emphasize the demand for the right to vote.

These events were instrumental in galvanizing public support and ultimately led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This landmark legislation prohibited racial discrimination in voting, significantly impacting the political landscape in the United States by empowering millions of African Americans to exercise their right to vote. The Selma to Montgomery marches are often cited as a critical moment in the Civil Rights Movement, highlighting both the courage of activists and the urgent need for legal protections against racial discrimination at the polls.