Montgomery bus boycott 1955-56

Question 1

Background

Answer 1

Poor black people in cities needed bus for commute. 75% of bus revenue. Couldn’t sit at the front or in line w white passengers. Bus drivers ran off with their 10c fares

Question 2

Rosa Parks

Answer 2

Black leaders wanted a “test case” - Dec 1st 1955 local NAACP secretary, married seamstress Rosa Parks chose not to give up her seat “You may do that”

Question 3

Boycott set up

Answer 3

5th Dec boycott starts for her trial. Leaflets distributed by Women’s Political Council. Advertised by pentecostal churches. Montgomery improvement Association to run it. New clean minister Martin Luther to lead

Question 4

Boycott negotiations

Answer 4

Negotiations week before Christmas. Demands rejected. Would continue until bus fully desegregated. King + Abarnathy in charge. Carpool organised. Black taxi drivers matched bus fares

Question 5

Peaceful protest

Answer 5

King emphasised peaceful protest and economic power. Encouraged white businesses to put pressure on city leaders. Stayed peaceful when their houses and churches were firebombed and arrested

Question 6

Power of media

Answer 6

Strategically placed protests for television. Whites couldn’t hide from the injustice and violence. Kept on pressure. King was an incredible public speaker

Question 7

White reaction

Answer 7

Scared of domino desegregation
White citizens council
Denied insurance to black taxi drivers
Rich white ladies drove their servants to clean their houses

Question 8

Victory

Answer 8

Bowder v Gayle 1956
Scared to lose another year Christmas income
Desegregation would be a gradual process but this was used as a basis