Montgomery Bus Boycott

Question 1

Rosa Parks

Answer 1

1955-December 1st, montgomery Alabama, Rosa Parks on a segregated bus. She sat on the first coloured row, white seating was full and a white man got on the bus. Everyone on her (coloured) row told to move and all did except for Parks. Driver called the police and she was arrested.

Question 2

What happened after the Rosa Parks incident

Answer 2

Normally in this case, those who refused to move were arrested. After this, NAACP and other groups created awareness in MG to fight for civil rights and the black people of Montgomery boycotted the buses there. This lasted 381 days until buses were desegregated.

Question 3

Segregation on buses

Answer 3

White people at the front and coloured at the back in labelled sections. Drivers (always white) often made black passengers pay, get off the bus, instead of walking through the white section, to get on at the middle of the bus. Sometimes closed doors and drove off before they could reboard. Drivers were quick to call the police when segregation wasn’t followed.

Question 4

WPC

Answer 4

Women’s political council set up in 1946 in Montgomery to fight discrimination. After Parks’ arrest, WPC called for 1 day boycott on 5th December. 90% of black people took part and civil rights activists realised this could be used for publicity.

Question 5

MIA

Answer 5

Montgomery Improvement Association set up at Holt Street Baptist Church at a meeting on 5th December. Aimed to improve the lives of black people in Montgomery and continue the bus boycott. Martin Luther King chosen as it’s leader.

Question 6

Martin Luther King

Answer 6

Chosen as leader of MIA because:
-He was new in town, no friends/enemies amoung white officials in Montgomery
-Clergyman, respect of black community
-paid by church so no white businesses could sack him
-well educated and believed in civil rights
-supported using non violent direct action

Question 7

Imp of MLK leadership: education

Answer 7

Well educated. Made his campaign strategically and helped him create plans on how to achieve his goals.

Question 8

Imp of MLK leadership: non-violent direct approach

Answer 8

Never in the moral-wrong, helped movement gain sympathy

Question 9

Imp of MLK leadership: passionate speeches

Answer 9

Motivated others to help the movement, made point clear, gained publicity.

Question 10

Imp of MLK leadership: devotion to movement

Answer 10

Clear passion, motivated members of the movement, images of a strong leader

Question 11

Imp of MLK leadership: christian values

Answer 11

People could make links between religious teachings and equality. Church was a big part of people’s lives.

Question 12

Imp of MLK leadership: widespread…

Answer 12

Support from blacks and whites.

Question 13

Importance of the boycott- publicity

Answer 13

Showed impact of publicity for civil rights movement to highlight injustices. This boycott influenced another in Tallahassee Florida. Showed how mass resistance and protests attract attention and set off white backlash which could be used to gain sympathy.

Question 14

Importance of the boycott

Answer 14

-publicity
-laid out rules for non-violent direct action
-brought MLK into spotlight
-showed mass resistance could be organised and have an impact

Question 15

Ways in which the Boycot WAS successful

Answer 15

-buses desegregated
-legally symbolic victory
-showed power of non-violent organised protest
-brought MLK to spotlight
-led to 1957 civil rights act

Question 16

Ways in which the boycott WAS NOT successful

Answer 16

-MLK and other MIA leaders’ houses bombed
-black churches bombed
-shots fired at black people riding buses
-buses suspended for several weeks until things calmed down
-no further desegregation happened in MG

Question 17

Events of boycott

Answer 17

Use book to make timeline/mindmap