Rosa Parks & The Montgomery Bus Boycott: Why Was It Effective?

One common form of nonviolent protest used during the Civil Rights Movement in America was the boycott. African Americans would boycott white-owned businesses that failed to serve African American customers in order to hurt them economically and demonstrate the importance of black patronage and equality. These boycotts were sometimes successful, and other times not. The most successful boycott of the Civil Rights movement was perhaps the Montgomery Bus Boycott, spurred by Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger.

Review what caused the Montgomery Bus Boycotts, and use the three primary sources provided to complete a graphic organizer on the following page about the Montgomery Bus Boycotts. Then use those primary sources to write a short constructed response about the effectiveness of the boycott.

Review

For each of the following causes, explain how each cause listed might have contributed to the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Causes How did this contribute to the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

Plessy v. Ferguson

Jim Crow laws & segregation

Rosa Parks arrest (refusal to give up her seat)

Primary Source Analysis

Look for evidence in the three provided primary sources to answer the question: Why was the Montgomery Bus Boycott effective? Copy down evidence/quotes and notes about the sources as your read in the box below.

Document/Source? Notes & Quotes Why was the Montgomery Bus Boycott effective?

Short Constructed Response

Why was the Montgomery Bus Boycott effective? Why did it succeed? Using at least two pieces of evidence from the three primary sources, answer the following question in a short constructed response. Identify a minimum of two claims/reasons for why it was effective.