On August 28, 1963, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom drew a vast crowd to the nation’s capital. An estimated quarter of a million people gathered to call for civil rights legislation and economic justice. The event featured speeches by leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., who delivered his “I Have a Dream” address. The march’s size and peaceful character impressed observers and increased pressure on lawmakers. It helped build support for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The march remains one of the most important demonstrations in U.S. history.
