Little Rock Nine

1. Background & Context:

   • The Little Rock Nine were a group of nine Black students who integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957.

   • Their enrollment followed the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Brown v. Board of Education (1954), which declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

2. Resistance & Federal Intervention:

   • Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus opposed integration and deployed the Arkansas National Guard to block the students from entering the school.

   • President Dwight D. Eisenhower intervened by federalizing the National Guard and deploying the 101st Airborne Division to escort the students safely into the school.

3. Challenges Faced by the Little Rock Nine:

   • The students faced extreme harassment, verbal abuse, and physical violence from white students and the local community.

   • Minnijean Brown was expelled for retaliating against a white student who harassed her.

   • Ernest Green became the first Black student to graduate from Central High School in 1958.

4. Impact on the Civil Rights Movement:

   • The crisis exposed the deep-seated racism in the South and demonstrated the federal government's role in enforcing desegregation.

   • It strengthened the Civil Rights Movement, leading to increased activism and legal challenges against segregation.

   • It set a precedent for federal intervention in civil rights issues, influencing later legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Vocabulary Words for an Essay on the Little Rock Nine

1. Desegregation – The process of ending racial segregation.

2. Integration – The incorporation of different racial or ethnic groups into a unified system.

3. Resistance – Opposition to change, particularly by white segregationists.

4. Federalism – The division of power between state and national governments, relevant in Eisenhower’s intervention.

5. Precedent – An earlier event or decision that sets an example for future actions (e.g., federal enforcement of desegregation).

6. Defiance – Open resistance, as shown by Governor Faubus against federal law.

7. Perseverance – Steadfastness in overcoming challenges, exemplified by the Little Rock Nine.

8. Hostility – Aggressive behavior or opposition, such as the reactions of white students and parents.

9. Legislation – Laws enacted by the government, such as those promoting civil rights.

10. Milestone – A significant event or achievement, such as the integration of Central High School.

11. Discrimination – The unfair treatment of individuals based on race, seen in the resistance to integration.

12. Supremacy Clause – A constitutional principle that asserts federal law takes precedence over state laws.

13. Advocacy – The act of supporting or promoting a cause, such as civil rights activism.

14. Mobilization – The process of organizing people and resources for action, as seen in the deployment of federal troops.

15. Judicial Authority – The power of the courts to interpret laws, exemplified by Brown v. Board of Education.