Enforcing School Desegregation (Little Rock) Flashcards
When did the Little Rock Nine try to join the Central High School in Little Rock?
1957
What did the school board in Little Rock attempt to do?
Enforce a federal court order to desegregate school system
What did the governor do in response of the Little Rock Nine trying to join the school?
- Orval Fabus
- Motive: seeking re-election
- Sent National Guard to prevent black students from entering all white Little Rock High School
After two weeks, what replaced the Guard when it was withdrawn?
A white mob
What two words describe Eisenhower when dealing with social matters?
Deeply conservative
What did Eisenhower do in response of Little Rock (what was unusual)?
Reluctantly sent in 1100 troops from the legendary 101st Airborne Division to escort the black students to school
What was the 101st Airborne Division famous for?
Played huge role in D-Day air landings in Normandy
Why did Eisenhower have to send those troops?
- Had to be seen to enforce federal law
- National and international coverage of the racism displayed was embarrassing
What did Little Rock symbolise?
- Continued white defiance of desegregation law
- The fact that not everything white supremacists did received shameful national and international press coverage
What did Little Rock highlight about Eisenhower?
- Showed the president (popular all-American war hero) was prepared to uphold federal law regarding civil rights to maintain his power
- Yet he was unwilling to approve it to avoid losing the Dixiecrats’ support
What did Little Rock dramatise about legal action?
To make desegregation a reality, the president must be prepared to enforce laws passed by the Supreme Court
