Montgomery Bus Boycott and its impact Flashcards
What happened on the 1 December 1955?
In Montgomery Rosa Parks got on a bus after work
the buses were segregated so black had to sit at the back on separate seats “coloured seats”
What did Rosa do and what were the consequences?
the white rows were full and one white man was standing up in order for him to get a seat the bus driver made the black people who were sat on their row to get up for this man they all got up except Rosa the driver called the police and she was arrested
What normally happened if someone refused to get up/What was the significance of Rosa?
they would drive to the nearest pay phone told everyone to sit down and rang the police
but what Rosa did lead to a bus boycott which lasted 381 days.Boycott ended when buses were desegregated
What was the long term cause of the boycott?
The women political council set up in Montgomery in 1946 to fight discrimination had focused on bus reforms and asked for the changes to the issue of drivers and empty seats
What was the significance of Rosa Parks?
she was respectable and a regarded black women her opponents could not say a bad word against her
she was Secretary of Montgomery NAACP and the leader of its youth council.she was trained how to react in a non violent way
What was the MIA
Montgomery Improvement Association
set up a meeting on the 5 December and it aims were to
improve black people lives
continue bus boycott
pressurise for improvements
Why was M.L King choses as leader of MIA
he was new in Montgomery had no enemies
he was a clergyman so black community respected him paid by the church no threats of loosing his job
educated and believed in civil rights
he supported it through non-violent actions
When was the first event for the boycott?
8 December MIA met bus company officials who refused to change policy they decided to continue the boycott but
bus company knew some people would not be able to walk to work due to illnesses
What did they do instead of going on buses?
The MIA set up a carpool system and began on 12 December they had well over 300 cars
What were the effects of the boycott?
faced violence/harassment
some lost their job
long walk in all weathers
BUT it bought publicity and fundraising for MIA which kept them going
What did people do to show opposition?
On the 30 Jan in 1956 they bombed King home with his wife and child in they also burned other homes and churches
How were the MIA arrested/
on minor charges like speeding this increased in 1956
22 Feb 89 including King were arrested for disrupting lawful business due to the boycott
What happened at the end of the trial?
they went to jail and appeared on trial on 19 march
they bought evidence of abuse including murder inflicted white drivers publicity increased and King was guilty and had to pay a fine of $5000
What was the Browder Vs Gayle court case?
1 February 1956 the NAACP lawyer filed Browder v Gayle against bus segregation as a violation of the 14th Amendment
once the case was filed the MIA held meetings and agreed to demand for desegregation
What was the supreme court decision?
Browder Vs Gayle
trial was on 11 May
5 June the court stated that buses should be desegregated
bus company appealed to supreme court but on November 13 the court upheld the earlier decision and second appeal was rejected on 17 December
