Historians offer different perceptions of the significance of Martin Luther King and the 1963 March on Washington. Without examining this event in historical context, media hype and the iconic “I have a dream” speech can easily overshadow the progress already underway in America. Prominent civil rights activist Ella Baker insisted that "it was the movement that made Martin rather than Martin who made the movement." What should not be overlooked is the significant change that has occurred in the United States over the previous 100 years. So much so that many influential figures in favor of racial equality opposed the march. The Civil Rights Act proposed by President Kennedy in 1963 was already in the legislative process. In addition, the federal government is now reasserting its power over the entire United States by implementing a policy of desegregation. It is important to note that these changes all took place less than a hundred years after the Thirteenth Amendment of 1965 abolished slavery and the Fourteenth Amendment of 1968 recognized the right of former slaves to be recognized as U.S. citizens. With this level of progress, Kennedy was against continuing the march due to the argument that she was limited in what she could achieve. Today, King's 1963 speech is considered one of the most iconic speeches in history. However, was it a key turning point in achieving racial equality for African Americans? Federal approval would suggest yes, after decades of Southern states being able to overturn federal law designed to break segregation. This support builds on the cornerstones of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments of the 19th century. Therefore, examining the national status of black Americans from the middle of paper was also the clearest way to attract the federal government to support the civil rights campaign and the great force that black Americans represented. However, I do not believe that this alone achieved racial equality in America. It is easy to overlook the work of organizations like SNCC and SCLC. These played a crucial role in helping to spark protests that developed into widespread campaigns of civil disobedience. Additionally, the impact of the two world wars acted as a catalyst in changing the position of the world and America in it. This created a domestic problem for the United States that needed to be resolved. America, as an emerging superpower, could no longer continue this way. However, what is clear is that King's beautifully articulated speech, combined with the massive participation in the march, created a day that captured the world's imagination..