What term describes the efforts of marginalized groups seeking equal rights in American history?

The term "civil rights activism" accurately reflects the initiatives and movements by marginalized groups in the United States that aim to achieve equal rights and combat discrimination. This period is characterized by significant social change, particularly during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, where activists fought against racial segregation, voter suppression, and inequality faced by African Americans and other minority groups.

Civil rights activism encompasses a wide range of efforts, including protests, legal challenges, and advocacy for legislation that promotes equality and justice. The movement led to landmark achievements such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which significantly advanced the rights of marginalized communities.

While radicalism refers to extreme political or social change and nationalism involves strong identification with one’s own nation often at the expense of others, neither of these terms captures the specific focus on equality and civil liberties that defines civil rights activism. Isolationism, on the other hand, relates to a foreign policy stance that avoids involvement in international affairs, which is unrelated to the efforts of marginalized groups seeking rights domestically.