The main social and political cause of the American Civil Rights Movement was the demand for racial equality and an end to discrimination. This movement sought to address the systemic injustices faced by African Americans, striving for equal rights in voting, education, housing, and employment. Key figures, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, became emblematic of this struggle. Protests, legal challenges, and grassroots organizing played vital roles in the movement's efforts, leading to landmark legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.