What happened during the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

• A. Violence used against boycotters
• B. Churches bought cars to take people to work
• C. People walked to work causing the bus companies to lose money
• D. Montgomery White Citizens Council led opposition

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is how nonviolent protest used everyday action to pressure change. After Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, many in Montgomery chose not to ride the city buses. People walked to work or formed car pools organized by churches and volunteers. This shift drastically reduced bus ridership and hit the bus company’s profits, showing that the community could force change through collective, peaceful action. The boycott lasted about 381 days and helped bring about a court ruling that segregation on buses was unconstitutional, leading to desegregation of Montgomery’s buses. There was opposition from groups like the Montgomery White Citizens Council, but the defining effect of the boycott was the economic impact of ordinary people choosing alternatives to riding the bus.