The Montgomery Bus Boycott

Question 1

When was the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

Answer 1

On 1st December 1955.

Question 2

Who was involved in the Montgomery bus boycott?

Answer 2

Rosa Parks.

Question 3

What was the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

Answer 3

Rosa Parks was sitting in the ‘coloured seating’. The bus driver asked Rosa and 3 other black men to move. She refused to move for the man and was arrested.

Question 4

What happened after Parks arresting?

Answer 4

A bus boycott began. It lasted 381 days and almost all black people of Montgomery took part.

Question 5

When did the boycott end?

Answer 5

When buses were desegregated.

Question 6

Who are WPC?

Answer 6

Women’s political council.

Question 7

What did WPC fight against?

Answer 7

Discrimination.

Question 8

Significance of Parks arresting?

Answer 8

The WPC had warned Montgomery’s mayor, that there would be a boycott if the bus policy didn’t change. Parks’ arrest was the last straw.

Question 9

Who are MIA?

Answer 9

The Montgomery Improvement Association.

Question 10

Events of the boycott?

Answer 10

8th Dec-MIA met bus company officials who refused to change policies. MIA then met church groups to set up car pool systems. Began on 12 Dec.

Question 11

How did the boycott effect the boycotters lives?

Answer 11

Lives less comfortable. Faced violence and harassment. Some lost their jobs but didn’t give up. Persistence meant publicity and fundraising.

Question 12

Reaction of boycott from white people?

Answer 12

Some became more extreme. On 30 January 1956, King’ s home was bombed, with his family inside. Increasing publicity.

Question 13

What was the importance of the Boycott?

Answer 13

Brought MLK to spotlight. Showed black people could create mass resistance and civil rights campaign attract support. Rules of non-violent action was clearly laid out.

Question 14

Reasons for boycott success?

Answer 14

Combination of organisation, commitment and publicity.

Question 15

What was Browder vs Gayle case?

Answer 15

Fight for desegregation of buses. NAACP lawyers saw bus segregation as violation to 14th amendment.

Question 16

What was Supreme Courts decision on Browder vs Gayle case?

Answer 16

On 5 June, the court stated buses should be desegregated, giving brown as their reason.

Question 17

When did integrated buses start?

Answer 17

21st December due to bus company’s appealing to courts which were all rejected.

Question 18

What was Civil Rights 1957?

Answer 18

Signed on 9th September, it allowed federal courts to prosecute state violations of voting right.

Question 19

What was South’s advantage against this?

Answer 19

An all-white jury in South could just dismiss the case blocking the acts enforcement.

Question 20

Why was Eisenhower reluctant to act on civil rights?

Answer 20

Argued real change came from changing minds not forcing a change.

Question 21

Why was King important in civil rights movements?

Answer 21

Because of his education, non-violent approach, passionate speeches, devotion to civil rights and emphasis on Christian values.

Question 22

What was King’s part in bus boycott?

Answer 22

Keeping the boycotters going, raising funds for the MIA and getting publicity for the boycott.

Question 23

What is SCLC?

Answer 23

The Southern Christian Leadership Council.

Question 24

When was SCLC set up?

Answer 24

In January 1957.

Question 25

What was SCLC aim?

Answer 25

To coordinate church-based protest across the South.

Question 26

Among it leaders were who?

Answer 26

Martin Luther King and Ralph Abernathy.

Question 27

Key features of SCLC’s policies?

Answer 27

All segregation to be rejected/protested against. Non-violent direct action tactics. Mass action. Broad-based black and white membership.

Question 28

What was SCLC’s first big campaign?

Answer 28

Centred around voter registration. It wanted enough black voters in the South to have an impact on the elections.