Little Rock Flashcards
What event occurred on September 9, 1957, in Little Rock, Arkansas?
9 black students accepted to Little Rock High School
This event is known as the Little Rock Nine.
Who ordered the Arkansas National Guard to keep the black students out of the school?
Governor Orval Faubus
Faubus’s actions were part of a larger resistance to school desegregation.
What happened to Elizabeth Eckford when she was separated from the group?
She was surrounded by a white mob, who screamed threats and shouted ‘lynch her’
This incident highlighted the extreme hostility faced by the Little Rock Nine.
What did the black students have to do once they got into the school?
Hide in the basement and wait for police evacuation
The students faced immediate threats upon entering the school.
What was Eisenhower’s response to Governor Faubus’s actions?
He asked Faubus to remove the National Guard
Faubus agreed but continued to resist desegregation.
What did Eisenhower eventually do after over a week of tension?
He sent the 101st Airborne Division as a show of force
This was a significant federal intervention in support of desegregation.
What type of attacks did the Little Rock Nine experience at school?
Violent attacks including being pushed down stairs and having chemicals and burning paper thrown at them
These incidents exemplified the violent backlash against integration.
What did Governor Faubus do in 1958 and 1959 regarding Little Rock High Schools?
Closed all Little Rock High Schools
This was an attempt to avoid desegregation.
What reason did Eisenhower give for intervening in Little Rock?
The breakdown of law and order
Eisenhower was concerned about the implications for the U.S. during the Cold War.
What did television coverage reveal about the treatment of black children during the Little Rock crisis?
Black children were shown being spat on by white adults, shocking many Americans
This media coverage played a crucial role in shaping public opinion.
