Eisenhower key events - Little Rock 1957

Question 1

What was it?

Answer 1

-9 AAs attempted to integrate into Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas

Question 2

Why did 9 AAs attempt to integrate into the high school?

Answer 2

-done to test the 1954 Brown vs Board verdict

Question 3

What happened on the first day?

Answer 3

-on the student’s first day the Governor (Orval Faubus) deployed Arkansas National Guard to stop the students entering the school
-initially thanks to the NAACP lawyers getting a state injunction to stop the Governor blocking the school and a police escort the students entered the school on the 23rd September->they rushed home afterwards fearing escalating mob violence

Question 4

What did Eisenhower do and what did this allow?

Answer 4

-Eisenhower sent the 101st Airborne Division to protect the students on the 25th September->allowed them to complete their first full day
-protected the students for the entire school year

Question 5

What did Faubus (Governor) do?

Answer 5

-closed the schools in 1958 to stop desegregation but he was forced to reopen them in 1959

Question 6

What did they experience?

Answer 6

-even though they were allowed in school they received routine harassment and violence
-banned from extracurricular activities

Question 7

What were the impacts?

Answer 7

-first Federal intervention shows government support of civil rights->suggests Eisenhower could no longer ignore the Southern whites reluctance to civil rights
-the media coverage allowed for everyone to see the hate fueled reactions of Southern whites->demonstrating to the rest of the USA the persecution blacks faced in the South->swayed people towards the idea of integration

Question 8

What did it highlight?

Answer 8

-the situation also highlighted that blacks were willing to protest to improve their education and now with the Federal Government support