The Montgomery Bus Boycott

1. The Montgomery Bus Boycott Lesson starter: Write down what you know about Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

2. Today we will… • Understand the events that led to Rosa Parks’ arrest in Dec 1955 • Examine why the bus boycott became a success for the Civil Rights movement

3. Who? • Rosa Parks, 42 year old seamstress • From Montgomery, Alabama • She had grown up in a segregated society • She was a Civil Rights Worker – worked for National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP)

4. What happened? • In 1943, Rosa had already experienced discrimination on Montgomery Buses • December 1955, she was told to give up her seat for a white person and refused • She was arrested • The NAACP decided to encourage Black Americans to boycott the city’s buses James F Blake, bus driver

5. The NAACP handed out 35,000 leaflets urging people to boycott buses • 5 Dec onwards – boycott starts • People walked, cycled and carpooled • Terrible weather • Lasted for 381 days • Hundreds of buses lay unused

6. Rosa being arrested

7. Empty buses

8. Walking to work

10. Why was the boycott so important? • 75% of bus users were Black – the bus company eventually had to give in and desegregated Montgomery Buses • The boycott lasted over a year – 381 days • It showed the financial power of Black people • It created publicity for the Civil Rights movement • It inspired people to stand up for their rights – after all, Rosa was just an ordinary woman • It gave the Civil Rights movement a leader – Martin Luther King who inspired the boycotters

11. Video Clips • Bus Boycott • Rosa Parks • Rosa Parks funeral (click link at top right)