The pivotal event that sparked the American Civil Rights Movement was the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. This landmark case declared state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, effectively overturning the earlier Plessy v. Ferguson decision that upheld "separate but equal" facilities. Brown v. Board galvanized civil rights activists, highlighting systemic racism and discrimination faced by African Americans. It inspired widespread protests and initiatives to combat racial inequality, leading to significant events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington, setting the stage for the broader movement that sought to achieve civil rights and social justice.