The main goal of the civil rights movement, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s in the United States, was to end racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans and secure equal rights under the law. Activists aimed to dismantle systemic racism, promote economic equality, and ensure the right to vote. Through nonviolent protests, legal challenges, and grassroots organizing, leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X brought attention to the injustices faced by African Americans, ultimately leading to significant legislative changes, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.