The evolution of civil rights law in America is a testament to the nation’s enduring struggle for equality and justice. It reflects the profound transformations that have occurred in American society, politics, and culture over the centuries. The journey towards establishing civil rights for all citizens, regardless of race, color, religion, sex or national origin has been long and fraught with challenges.

The story begins with the abolitionist movement in the mid-19th century when activists fought against slavery and demanded equal rights for African Americans. The Civil War from 1861 to 1865 marked a turning point in this struggle as it led to the emancipation of slaves. This was followed by ratification of three significant constitutional amendments: The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery; Fourteenth Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States including former slaves; Fifteenth Amendment prohibited federal and state governments from denying citizens’ right to vote based on their race.

However, these advancements were undermined during the era known as Jim Crow (late 1870s -1960s) where laws were enacted primarily in Southern states that enforced racial segregation leading to widespread discrimination against African Americans. Despite having legal protection under constitution amendments, they were denied basic civil liberties through various means such as literacy tests and poll taxes which made it difficult for them to exercise their voting rights.

The mid-20th century witnessed another wave of change with the Civil Rights Movement gaining momentum. Activists like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks along with numerous others risked their lives advocating non-violent protests demanding an end to racial segregation and discrimination. Subsequently this led to landmark legislations such as Brown v Board of Education (1954) which ruled racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional; Civil Rights Act (1964) outlawing discrimination based on race, color, religion sex or national origin; Voting Rights Act (1965) prohibiting racial discrimination in voting; Fair Housing Act (1968) banning discrimination in sale, rental or financing of housing.

The evolution continued with the expansion of civil rights to other marginalized communities. The Civil Rights Act was extended in 1974 to protect women from sex-based discrimination and again in 1990 to include individuals with disabilities. More recently, the Supreme Court’s decision on Obergefell v Hodges legalised same-sex marriage across all states marking a significant milestone for LGBTQ+ rights.

In conclusion, the evolution of civil rights law in America is an ongoing process requiring constant vigilance and advocacy. While significant strides have been made towards equality and justice, there are still areas where progress is needed such as racial disparities in criminal justice system, voting restrictions and gender pay gap among others. Thus, the quest for achieving full equality continues shaping the future course of American civil rights law.