The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, also known as the Great March on Washington, took place on August 28, 1963, in Washington, D.C. The purpose of the march was to advocate for the civil and economic rights of African Americans. Notable figures such as Bob Dylan and Joan Baez performed, and several speeches were given, including the historic "I Have a Dream" speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The march, organized by Bayard Rustin and A. Philip Randolph, brought together civil rights, labor, and religious organizations under the banner of "jobs and freedom." Estimates suggest that 200,000 to 300,000 people participated, with the majority being African American. The march is credited with contributing to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The event was a significant milestone in the Civil Rights Movement, leading to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The march represented a unified effort to address the social, economic, and political repression faced by African Americans, ultimately contributing to a turning point in the fight for civil rights in the United States.

In medieval Europe, a march or mark was a borderland, as opposed to a state's "heartland." It served as a border between realms or a neutral buffer zone under joint control of two states, with different laws possibly applying. The term "march" ultimately derives from a Proto-Indo-European root *merg-, meaning "edge, boundary." This concept gave rise to the titles marquess (masculine) or marchioness (feminine).Historical examples of marches and marks include the Marca Hispanica, a buffer zone ruled by feudal lords, and the marches set up by Charlemagne, such as the Danish March, Saxon or Nordalbingen march, Thuringian or Sorbian march, and others to defend against various groups.The term "march" has been used throughout history in various regions of Europe, serving as a political tool to provide warning of military incursions or regulate cross-border trade. It has also influenced the development of feudalism and the establishment of self-sufficient landholders to defend the frontier.

March is the third month of the year and is associated with various meanings and references across different domains. In the context of people, the surname "March" is linked to individuals such as March Avery, an American painter, and March Fong Eu, an American politician. The term "March" also has relevance in arts, entertainment, and media, with notable works including the novel "March" by Geraldine Brooks and the historical fiction novel "The March" by E. L. Doctorow. Furthermore, in the realm of music, "March" represents a genre associated with marching cadences and has been featured in various songs and albums by artists such as Lene Lovich and Michael Penn. Additionally, the term "March" is connected to brands and enterprises like March Engineering, a Formula One team, and organizations such as the March of Dimes, a US nonprofit working to improve maternal and infant health. Moreover, "March" holds significance in other domains, including architecture, sports, and events, such as March Madness, the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

The March of Ancona, also known as Marca Anconitana, was a frontier march in the Middle Ages centered on the city of Ancona and later Fermo then Macerata. Today, its name is preserved as an Italian region, the Marche, encompassing almost the entire modern region. Originally part of Imperial Italy, the march was constituted around 1100 from the March of Fermo and a southern portion of the Byzantine Pentapolis. There were disputes between the Empire and the Church over rights and jurisdiction in the March, leading to conflicts and invasions. The march was definitively acquired by the Papal States during the pontificate of Innocent III in 1198 and was initially governed by a papal nominee called a rector. Under the papacy, the March had three towns of over 10,000 people: Ancona, Ascoli Piceno, and Fermo. The province was reorganized in 1357, and it followed the Adriatic as far north as Urbino. The March of Ancona became the home of the spiritual Franciscans after St. Francis of Assisi's death, as documented in Paul Sabatier's biography of St. Francis. The ruling families included the House of Este, with the line of "Marquesses of Este" rising in 1039 with Albert Azzo II, and the House of Sforza, with Francesco I Sforza being a notable marquess.

The March of Fermo, also known as the Marchia Fermana, was a frontier territory of the Holy Roman Empire in the Kingdom of Italy from the late 10th to the early 12th centuries. It bordered the Principality of Benevento and later the Duchy of Apulia to the south, covering parts of the modern regions of Marche and Abruzzo. The origins of the March of Fermo are uncertain, but it may have been a direct continuation of the Duchy of Fermo created by King Liutprand around 727. The march faced Norman incursions, and it was eventually merged with the March of Ancona, forming one of the marches that gave the region of Marche its name.Papal involvement in the March of Fermo included Pope Leo IX recruiting an army from the Holy Roman Empire for war against the Normans, and later, the Emperor Henry III appointing Pope Victor II to the offices of margrave of Fermo. The Norman incursions into the region led to conflicts and agreements between the Normans and the papacy.Around 1100, the March of Fermo was absorbed into the March of Ancona under Werner II, ultimately bringing an end to its independent existence. The March of Fermo played a significant role in the historical and geopolitical landscape of medieval Italy.