Reading Excerpt: Social Studies: Growth of a Nation by Scott Foresman pages 422-423, articles “The Montgomery Bus Boycott” and “The Movement Grows”
Grade Level: 4th
State Standards: U.S. History: Famous People and Events in U.S. History.
The student will recognize people and events made significant contributions to U.S. History.
Benchmarks: Student will know individuals and groups associated with key turning points in U.S. History.
Questions:
1. What was the Montgomery bus boycott?
a) African Americans rode the bus only on the weekdays
b) White people had to give up their seats on the bus to African Americans
c) African Americans refused to ride the buses and carpooled/ walked to work instead
d) African Americans refused to sit by White people on the bus
2. How long did the boycott last?
a) Five months
b) Two weeks
c) Eight months
d) More than a year
3. What did the Supreme Court declare in 1956?
a) It was okay for African Americans to sit on the floor of the bus
b) Segregation on public buses was illegal
c) White people had to sit in the back of the bus
d) You had to get approved by the government to ride the bus
4. Why do you think Martin Luther King, Jr. promoted passive resistance? Write in sentence form.
5. Summarize the events that led to the Supreme Court decision in 1956, writing a paragraph.
Answer Key
Answer Key:
1. c) African Americans refused to ride the buses and carpooled/ walked to work instead
2. d) More than a year
3. b) Segregation on public buses was illegal
4. I think Martin Luther King, Jr. promoted passive resistance because then no one would get hurt or start any riot in the community.
5. It all started with Rosa parks sitting in a seat in the middle of the bus and refusing to give it up to a White person. She was then arrested, which angered many African Americans so Robinson and other leaders decided to organize a boycott. People refused to ride the bus for more than a year, this ended in 1956 when the decision was declared.
Rationale
Clear Rationale: These questions relate back to the state’s standard because it is very important for students to know individuals like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr. and the events that followed in the turning point for African American freedoms. It is huge for students to know the significance of these events in U.S. history and how we have advanced so much to get where we are today in America.