Martin Luther King Jr. was the transcontinental leader of the American civil rights movement, advocating for racial equality and justice through nonviolent protest. His leadership during key events, such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington, where he delivered the famous "I Have a Dream" speech, galvanized support for civil rights legislation. King's philosophy was deeply rooted in principles of nonviolence and civil disobedience inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. His efforts significantly contributed to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, leaving an enduring legacy in the fight for civil rights.