The primary goal of the civil rights movement in the United States was to achieve racial equality and eliminate discrimination against African Americans. This movement sought to dismantle systemic barriers that enforced segregation and denied basic civil rights. Activists advocated for legislative changes, notably the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, aiming to secure legal protections and equal access to opportunities. The civil rights movement significantly transformed American society, laying the groundwork for ongoing struggles for justice and equality.