Historians offer varying perceptions of the significance of Martin Luther King and the 1963 March on Washington. Without examining this event in its historical context, media publicity and the iconic “I Have a Dream” speech can easily overshadow the progress already underway in America. Prominent civil rights activist Ella Baker insisted, "it was the movement that created Martin rather than Martin creating the movement." What is important not to overlook is the significant change that has occurred in the United States over the last 100 years. So much so that many influential figures supporting racial equality opposed the march. The Civil Rights Act proposed by President Kennedy in 1963 was already in the legislative phase. Furthermore, the federal government was now reasserting power over the entire United States by imposing a policy of desegregation. It is important to note that all of these changes took place less than one 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 starting the march because he felt that what he could achieve was limited. Today, King's 1963 speech is considered one of the most iconic speeches in history. However, was it a key turning point in African Americans achieving racial equality? Federal approval would suggest so, after decades in which Southern states were able to subvert federal law designed to break down segregation. This support was built on the cornerstones of the 19th century Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments. Therefore, looking at the national status of black Americans from... 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 has achieved racial equality in America. It's easy to overlook the work of organizations like SNCC and SCLC. These played a crucial role in helping to invoke protest which developed in the form of widespread civil disobedience campaigns. Furthermore, the impact of two world wars acted as a catalyst as it changed the position of the world and America in it. It created an internal issue for the United States that needed to be addressed. America, as an emerging superpower, could no longer continue like this. However, what is clear is that King's beautifully articulated speech, combined with the mass participation in the march, created a day that captured the imagination of the world..