Question

In 1957, Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, was forced by law to accept its first nine African American students. The students became known as the Little Rock Nine. In response, Arkansas governor Orval Faubus called out the state’s National Guard to prevent the students from attending classes. President Eisenhower stepped in to force compliance. A subsequent attempt by the nine students to attend the formerly all-white school resulted in mob violence. Exasperated, Eisenhower placed the Arkansas National Guard under federal control and sent the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne unit. The students were escorted to and from school as well as from class to class to ensure their rights and their well-being were protected. This was the first time since the end of Reconstruction that federal troops had to protect the rights of African Americans in the South.

In 3–5 sentences, summarize the event of the Little Rock Nine and analyze its significance in the history of civil rights in the United States.

Answer 1

The Little Rock Nine refers to the brave group of nine African American students who, in 1957, sought to integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, following the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education that declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Their attempt to attend the school was met with violent resistance, prompting Governor Orval Faubus to deploy the National Guard to block their entry. In response, President Eisenhower intervened by placing the National Guard under federal control and sending the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne to protect the students. This pivotal event highlighted the federal government's commitment to civil rights and marked a significant moment in the struggle for desegregation, illustrating the deep divisions in American society and paving the way for further civil rights advances.