1.3 - The Montgomery Bus Boycott And Its Impact, 1955-60 Flashcards
What happened on the 1st December 1955?
Rosa Parks arrested
What happened on the 8th December 1955?
Members of the MIA met bus company officials who refused to consider any policy changes. That evening the MIA decided to continue the boycott until their demands were met, this was because many would not be able to walk to work because of problems
What happened on the 12th December 1955?
The MIA met with church groups and other organisations to set up a car pool system of lifts. The first car pools began on this day and eventually had well over 300 cars
What happened on the 30th January 1956?
King’s home was bombed, with his wife and young baby inside. Several other homes and churches were bombed which increased the publicity, which was largely sympathetic to the boycotters.
What happened on the 1st of Febuary 1956?
NAACP lawyers filed Browder v Gayle against bus segregation because of the 14th Ammendment (the winning argument in Brown)
What happened on the 22nd of Febuary 1956?
89 MIA members including King were arrested for disrupting lawful business due to a boycott
What happened on the 19th of March 1956?
MIA members went on trial and presented abuse from white drivers,publicity increased, King found guilty and payed $500 fine
What happened on the 11th of May 1956
Browder V Gayle came to trial
What happened on the 5th of June 1956?
Supreme Court orders buses should be desegregated
What happened on the 13th of November 1956
Bus company appeal rejected
What happened on the 17th of December 1956?
2nd appeal rejected
What happened on the 20th of December 1956?
Boycott lifted, integrated buses begin on 21st December
NOTE : JUST READ
On the 1st of December 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks got on a bus to go home after work. Montgomery buses were segregated and sat on the colour seated row. One white man was standing on the packed bus and asked Rosa and the people sitting on her row to move, Rosa refused though the others did.The driver then called the police and they then arrested her.
Most Southern Towns had a system of seating similar to that used by the Montgomary bus company. Black people sat at the back and white people sat at the front, with the sections clearly labelled ‘whites’ and ‘coloweds’. Mantgomery did not employ black drivers, but that was not unusual.
In Montgomery, bus drivers bullied black people (especially women) where they took black passengers fares at the Front of the bus, then made them get off and walk through the middle Crater than walk through the white seating). Sometimes they closed the doars and drove OFF when a black passenger got off to re-board. They wer auso quick to cau the police if a black passenger refused to more for a white passenger.
In response to the arrest the WPC called for a one- day boycott of the buses, on 5 December, in protest against her arrest • It was to improve lives of black people - continud the boycott to demand improvements (eg black drivers, fair seating)
Became Women’s Political council (UPC) set up to fight discrimination - called for a one-day boycott of buses.
MLK became the Leader of the MIA - he was well educated, a clergyman, well respected and was new to Montgomery. Also paid by church and so could not be threatened with the sack.
What did the Supreme Court rule the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
In November 1956, the Supreme Court ruled that the segregation on buses in Alabama was unconstitutional and should end
Why was the Montgomery boycott a success?
- Commitment - Persisted many threats such as loss of jobs or bank loans
- Publicity - Had many supporters (including the press)
- Organisation - People were informed about boycotts and later events. like carpools with MIA meetings keeping them involved in decision making
