What was the significance of the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

History The Civil Rights Movement Questions



80 Short 46 Medium 47 Long Answer Questions Question Index

What was the significance of the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a significant event in the Civil Rights Movement as it marked a major turning point in the fight against racial segregation. It began on December 5, 1955, after Rosa Parks, an African American woman, refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. This act of defiance sparked a year-long boycott of the city's bus system by African Americans, led by civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. The boycott demonstrated the power of nonviolent protest and collective action, as African Americans united to challenge the unjust laws and practices of segregation. Ultimately, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of desegregating public transportation, leading to a significant victory for the Civil Rights Movement and inspiring further activism in the years to come.