The Montgomery Bus Boycott
What did Rosa Parks do on 1 December 1955?
- On 1 December 1955; 42 year old Rosa Parks (influential in the NAACP) was tired after a day at work and refused to give up her seat to a white man. She was arrested and put on trial on 5th December; being found guilty and having to pay a fine of $10.
How did the black people of Montgomery respond to Rosa Park being fined for refusing to give up her seat?
1. Rosa Parks was a respected member of the black community and so it was decided that they should boycott the buses in the hope that this segregation in transport would end. 70% of bus users were black and almost all of them joined the boycott.
Why was the Montgomery bus boycott important/significant? ( 3 reasons)
It showed that victory could be achieved if black Americans acted together. It was a victory for the method of non-violent direct action. Seen as the first major civil rights victory. Martin Luther King emerged as leader of the civil rights movement.
Describe how the buses were segregated in Montgomery>
Montgomery Bus Boycott 1955-1956 -In Montgomery, Alabama like other Southern states black Americans had to sit at the back of the bus and give up their seats to white people if the bus became full. The Victory 1. On 20 December 1956 the Supreme Court ruled that segregation in transport was unconstitutional and the boycott was called off. 2. This showed that victory could be achieved if black Americans acted together. It was a victory for the method of non-violent direct action. 3. IMPORTANT because • Seen as the first major civil rights victory. • Martin Luther King emerged as leader of the civil rights movement.
Who co-ordinated the Montgomery bus boycott?
Montgomery Improvement Association or MIA was set up to co-ordinate the boycott led by local Baptist minister Martin Luther King.
What did the Supreme Court say about segregated transport in December 1956?
On 20 December 1956 the Supreme Court ruled that segregation in transport was unconstitutional and the boycott was called off.
How long did the boycott last?
The Boycott lasted 381 days.
How did it affect the bus companies
The bus company lost 65% of its income because the majority of its customers were black.
How did black people manage during the boycott?
axi firms owned by black Americans helped to take people to work and car-pooling was organised. However, many people had to walk several miles each day and Some employers sacked their workers who took part in the boycott.