Little Rock Central High School Crisis Overview

  • Important People Involved:

    • Nine African American students attempting to desegregate the school

    • NAACP leader Daisy Bates

    • President Dwight D. Eisenhower

    • Governor Orval Faubus

    • Arkansas National Guard

    • Mob of white protesters

  • When and Where It Took Place:

    • September 4, 1957, at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.

  • What Happened at the Event:

    • Nine African American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, attempted to enter Central High School to attend classes.

    • A mob of white protesters, along with the Arkansas National Guard, prevented the students from entering the school on their first attempt.

    • Federal troops were deployed by President Eisenhower on September 25, 1957, to escort the students safely into the school.

  • Importance to the Civil Rights Movement:

    • The crisis was a significant moment that showcased the extreme resistance to desegregation in the South.

    • It highlighted the need for federal intervention in civil rights issues, demonstrating the government's commitment to uphold the law after the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education.

    • It set a precedent for further civil rights protests and movements around the country.

  • Leaders of the Event:

    • The movement was primarily led by NAACP leader Daisy Bates, who played a crucial role in organizing and supporting the Little Rock Nine.