The historical significance of the Montgomery Bus Boycott lies in its role as a foundational event in the American civil rights movement. Sparked by Rosa Parks's arrest in 1955 for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger, the boycott lasted for 381 days during which African Americans resisted riding city buses in Montgomery, Alabama. This act of civil disobedience highlighted systemic racism and segregation in public transportation. The boycott drew national attention, leading to legal challenges against segregation and spawning further activism across the country. It demonstrated the effectiveness of nonviolent protest and grassroots organizing, ultimately contributing to the broader struggle for civil rights.