After World War II, the United States presented a personality as an individual on a swing. The world was divided and in conflict over issues related to equality. African Americans were cut off from the rest of the world. Their actions led to the need for a civil rights movement. African Americans sought to secure racial equality and thus attempted to resolve America's racial inequalities. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essayKey events and ideas led to the need for a civil rights movement. The Civil War began as tensions between the northern and southern states increased over westward expansion, states' rights, and slavery. The national government disagreed over banning slavery in territories that were not yet states. It was essential to maintain a balance between free and slave states. Plessy v. Ferguson revolved around Homer Plessy, an African-American, who refused to leave the whites-only train car. The case prevented constitutional challenges to racial segregation by ensuring the maintenance of the "separate but equal" doctrine as outlined by the Supreme Court's decision: Plessy v. Ferguson. The Supreme Court's decision in Plessy v. Ferguson essentially allowed states to administratively resist when handling investigations into race. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was created by white and black activists in response to ongoing violence involving African Americans. Their long-term goals involved an end to segregation, equality in education and emancipation, and enforcement of the 14th and 15th Amendments. The NAACP fought for those who did not have a voice and educated the public about the effects of racial discrimination. The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural awakening that occurred when African Americans began to migrate from the South to the North. African American singers, dancers, writers, and actors rose to fame during this period. On the negative side, racism has not been eliminated. African American writers had to rely on white-owned companies to publish their works and on Cotton Club artists performing exclusively to white audiences. During World War II, African Americans signed up for service or volunteered. They defended and served their country despite the denial of their fundamental rights. African Americans fought for democracy abroad and at home. Those who enlisted were organized into separate units. This revealed that segregation was present during wartime. As noted above, a civil rights movement was underway. Education was expressed in the civil rights movement. Brown v. Board of Education held that racial segregation in public schools violated the 14th Amendment. Although it failed to completely desegregate schools, as illustrated by the Supreme Court's decision: Brown v. Board of Education: decision of May 17, 1954, it placed the Constitution on the side of racial equality and sparked the civil rights movement. This decision gave hope to millions of African Americans who simply wanted to be treated as equals. In Arkansas, a group of nine African American students (known as the Little Rock Nine) enrolled at an all-white Central High School. They were testing the verdict in Brown v. Board of Education, which determined that segregation.