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? Learning outcomes: by the end of the period you will be able to… Describe the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955 and identify what effect this case had on segregation laws in the Southern States
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& the Montgomery Bus Boycott, 1955
Rosa Parks & the Montgomery Bus Boycott, 1955
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... On 1 December 1955, a black American woman, Rosa Parks, boarded one of the buses of Montgomery City bus line and sat down. When the bus filled up the driver demanded that Mrs Parks and three other blacks get up and stand in the back of the bus. There was a city law which said that blacks must give up their seats to whites.
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... The three others got up but Rosa Parks remained seated. The bus driver shouted, “Nigger, move back!”. When Mrs Parks still did not obey, the driver called the police and Mrs Parks was arrested.
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... This event sparked off the modern direct action civil rights movement which helped change the history of the United States of America.
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The Bus Boycott Rosa Parks’ arrest gave leading blacks in Montgomery the perfect opportunity to take a stand against racial discrimination They distributed thousands of leaflets, calling for protest by boycotting the bus system for a day
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... On Monday 5 December 1955 the buses of Montgomery City bus line were almost empty The city’s blacks walked or taxied to work Black taxi companies carried passengers are bus fare prices
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Continuation of the Boycott
Rosa Parks was fined $10 Outside the courthouse, the leaders of the protest decided to continue the boycott The Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA) was formed A young minister, Martin Luther King Junior, was chosen as president of MIA
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... There comes a time when people get tired. We are here this evening to say to those who have mistreated us so long that we are tired – tired of being segregated and humiliated.
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Challenge to the Boycott
MIA was warned that fare minimums would be imposed on taxis The boycott was in danger of collapse Faced with this challenge, about 150 people (included 3 whites) volunteered to supply cars and drive in car pools so that the boycott could continue
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Non-violent protest King was a strong advocate for non-violence
He told his followers that no matter what action was taken against them they were not to retaliate Harassment came from all angles: Insurance companies would not cover cars in the car pool Blacks waiting for transport were threatened with charges of loitering King’s family home was bombed
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... We believe in law and order. Don’t get your weapons. He who lives by the sword will perish by the sword. Remember this is what God said. We are not advocating violence. We want to love our enemies. We must love our white brothers no matter what they do to us.
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... The bus boycott continued throughout 1956
When King and 88 others were charged with conspiracy to interfere with normal business, support for the boycott increased King was fined $500, his police file photo was published around the world
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The outcome In the Supreme Court the black attorneys were successful
The lower federal court upheld the decision that Montgomery’s transport segregation laws were unconstitutional The busses would have to desegregate
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... Among the first passengers on the first desegregated bus at 5.55am, 21 December 1956, were Martin Luther King Jr, Ralph Abernathy and E.D. Nixon – leaders of the Montgomery bus boycott
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Rosa Parks,
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Martin Luther King Jr Read over information on page 24
Take notes of what you feel are the key facts
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