Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Social Studies Practice Exam

The Montgomery Bus Boycott marked the first major confrontation of the civil rights struggle in the postwar era. This pivotal event began in December 1955 when Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her act of defiance ignited a widespread movement against racial segregation in public transportation. The boycott lasted for over a year, during which African Americans in Montgomery refused to use the city’s buses, significantly impacting the bus company's finances. The boycott was not only a powerful challenge to institutionalized racism but also showcased the potential for organized, peaceful resistance to segregation. It led to the eventual Supreme Court ruling that declared segregation on public buses unconstitutional. Other events, such as the Selma to Montgomery marches, Freedom Rides, and the March on Washington, were critical in the civil rights movement and built on the momentum created by the Montgomery Bus Boycott. However, the bus boycott is recognized as the initial large-scale act of collective resistance, setting the stage for subsequent civil rights actions.