The major confrontation in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement that took place in Birmingham was the Birmingham Campaign in 1963, which aimed to challenge segregation and discrimination in one of the most racially divided cities in America. Led by Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the campaign involved nonviolent protests, including sit-ins and marches. Birmingham's brutal response to these protests garnered nationwide attention, highlighting the violent resistance to civil rights and leading to significant public support for the movement. This confrontation ultimately resulted in federal intervention and played a crucial role in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.