New
New
Year 2

Paul Stephenson and the Bristol Bus Boycott

I can describe the reasons for, and events of, the Bristol Bus Boycott.

New
New
Year 2

Paul Stephenson and the Bristol Bus Boycott

I can describe the reasons for, and events of, the Bristol Bus Boycott.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. One big problem that black people faced in Bristol was finding good jobs.
  2. Even though there were not enough workers on the city's buses, people of colour were not allowed to work on them.
  3. This made Paul Stephenson very angry and so with four men from the Caribbean islands he decided to take action.
  4. They organised a boycott of the city's buses, supported by students, celebrities and politicians.
  5. After several months, the bus company agreed to allow people of colour to work on the buses.

Keywords

  • Protest - a protest is when a lot of people come together to show others that they strongly dislike something

  • Boycott - a boycott is when people refuse to buy or use something as a protest

  • Politician - a politician is someone who works for the government

Common misconception

Some may think that the only people not allowed to work for the Bristol bus companies in 1963 were black people.

The bus companies did not allow anyone who was not white to work for them.

Students could make signs that could have been used during the protest in 1963.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
People in the RAF…
drive trucks.
sail boats.
Correct answer: fly planes.
Q2.
A youth worker’s job is to work with and help people.
Correct Answer: young
Q3.
When he was in the RAF, Paul started working with and helping young people.
Correct answer: True
False
Q4.
Paul Stephenson was the first black youth worker in...
London
Correct answer: Bristol
Essex
Q5.
After the Second World War, people from all over were invited to live in Britain.
America
Correct answer: the world
Australia
Q6.
Black people in Britain in the 1960s were treated…
fairly
Correct answer: unfairly

6 Questions

Q1.
Bristol companies would not let people of colour work for them.
train
car
Correct answer: bus
Q2.
Match the keyword to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:protest ,when a lot of people come together to show they dislike something

when a lot of people come together to show they dislike something

Correct Answer:politician ,someone who works for the government

someone who works for the government

Correct Answer:boycott,when people refuse to buy or use something as a protest

when people refuse to buy or use something as a protest

Q3.
Paul Stephenson joined up with four people from to organise a protest.
Correct answer: the Caribbean
the RAF
France
Q4.
The protest was called the Bristol Boycott.
Correct Answer: Bus, bus
Q5.
Select the people who joined in with the Bristol Bus Boycott.
Correct answer: students
bus drivers
Correct answer: cricket players
Correct answer: politicians
Q6.
The Bristol Bus Boycott lasted for...
4 days
Correct answer: 4 months
4 years

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