Montgomery Bus Boycott, 1955-56 Flashcards
When was the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
5th December, 1955, to 20th December, 1956
What caused the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
❖Buses were segregated in the southern states of America. This was a violation of the constitution’s 14th Amendment.
❖On 1st December, 1955, Rosa Parks was instructed by a white bus driver to move out of her seat in the black section of the bus to allow a white man to sit, as the white seating area was full. She refused and was arrested.
❖Although she wasn’t the first to refuse to give up her seat, Rosa was a member of the NAACP and a well-respected citizen. For this reason, she was chosen as the boycott’s figurehead.
❖A boycott was called by the Women’s Political Council, WPC.
What organisation was created in response to Rosa Parks arrest?
The Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA) was created on 1st December in response to Rosa Parks’ arrest. The MIA’s chairman was Martin Luther King.
When did the Boycott begin?
The boycott started on 5th December, 1955 - the day of Rosa Parks’ trial.
What did MIA do?
❖The bus operator held talks with the leaders of the MIA to discuss what they wanted, but the bus operator refused to desegregate the buses.
❖The MIA organised car-shares and taxi rides for the African Americans so they could get to work during the boycott.
What did the NAACP do during the Montgomery Bus Boycott? What was the verdict?
The NAACP brought a court case, Browder versus Gayle, against the bus company on 1st February, 1956.
The outcome of the Browder versus Gayle case was that buses should be desegregated. The case was taken to the Supreme Court by the bus operator and White Citizens’ Councils.
When and after how many days did the Montgomery Bus boycott end?
The boycott ended on 19th December, 1956, after 381 days. This was following the Supreme Court decision that segregation was unconstitutional and buses should be desegregated.
What percent of African Americans participated in the boycott?
Around 90%
Why did the Montgomery Bus Boycott end?
The NAACP went to the Supreme Court, claiming bus segregation rules broke the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution. The case was known as Browder v Gayle. The court agreed, and the boycott was ended.
What was the role of the WPC (Women’s Political Council) in the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
The Women’s Political Council, or WPC, had campaigned against segregation on buses for years. It had warned the mayor a boycott would take place if one more black person was arrested for breaking bus segregation rules. The bus boycott on 5th December was suggested by the WPC.
What was the role of the churches in the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
❖Churches and church halls were a place for people to gather to organise the boycott.
❖Churches raised money to provide support for those involved in the boycott, such as cars for those who were car-sharing.
❖Churches raised awareness of the boycott.
Who opposed the MIA during the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
The White Citizens’ Councils and the Ku Klux Klan strongly opposed the MIA and its activities. They bombed Churches and MLK’s house.
How did the Montgomery Bus Boycott affect MLK?
It made him famous nationwide.
How did the Montgomery bus boycott affect the nation?
The actions of those in Montgomery inspired similar boycotts in other cities. In Tallahassee, Florida, for example, a boycott was held from 28th May to 22nd December, 1956.
Who was Rosa Parks?
Rosa Parks was an African American seamstress who was famous for her involvement in the Montgomery Bus Boycott which helped the civil rights movement begin.
