Montgomery, Alabama

Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama. The second largest city in Alabama, it is located on the Alabama River in Montgomery County (of which it is the seat) in south central part of the state. Montgomery is notable for its association with the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement.

History

Montgomery was named for General Richard Montgomery, who died in the American Revolutionary War attempting to capture Quebec, Canada. Montgomery was made the capital of Alabama on the fourth try. The territorial capital, St. Stephens on the Tombigbee River, had been supplanted by Huntsville then Cahawba and Tuscaloosa http://www.archives.state.al.us/markers/imontgomery.html. It was the first capital of the Confederate States of America, whose president Jefferson Davis was inaugurated in its steps (illustration, right). It is located on the north portion of the Alabama River.

Related Topics:
Richard Montgomery - American Revolutionary War - Quebec - Canada - St. Stephens - Tombigbee River - Huntsville - Cahawba - Tuscaloosa - Capital - Confederate States of America - Jefferson Davis - Alabama River

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Rev. Dr. Martin L. King Jr. gained national attention for civil rights issues during his tenure, 1954/1960, as pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, two blocks from the State Capitol Building. A civil rights memorial has been erected near the still-active church. On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks became a civil rights heroine in the city by refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man. The reaction to this arrest led to the 382-day Montgomery bus boycott which forced the city to desegregate its transit system on December 21, 1956. In 1965, Dr. King's nationally-publicized march for justice was conducted from Selma to Montgomery.

Related Topics:
Dr. Martin L. King Jr. - 1954 - 1960 - Dexter Avenue Baptist Church - December 1 - 1955 - Rosa Parks - Montgomery bus boycott - December 21 - 1956 - 1965 - Selma

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