American civil rights refers to various movements throughout American history, including the women's suffrage movement in the early 1900s and the black civil rights movement in the 1950s and 60s. During these periods, oppressed minorities came forward and demanded their "unalienable rights," such as the right to a vote and a push for desegregation. The United States Constitution says that not every United States citizen should be denied certain freedoms. Amendments made throughout the years ensure that everyone, regardless or race or gender, can enjoy those freedoms.