Difference between revisions of "Little Rock Crisis"
(New page: The '''Little Rock Desegregation Crisis''' was a historic event in the broader American Civil Rights movement. On September 23, 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered 1,000 federal...) |
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| − | The '''Little Rock Desegregation Crisis''' was a | + | The '''Little Rock Desegregation Crisis''' was a national symbol of the American Civil Rights movement in 1957. The crisis was precipitated on September 4, 1957, when Arkansas Governor [[Orval Faubus]] barred the door at [[Central High School]] in order to to prevent nine black students from attending classes. Faubus called out Arkansas National Guard troops to enforce his order. |
| − | On September 23, 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered 1,000 federal troops into the capitol city to restore order. | + | On September 23, 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered 1,000 federal troops into the capitol city to restore order and enforce a federal court order integrating Central High School. Segregationist protestors forced local police to lead the students away in the middle of the day. |
| − | Members of the 101st Airborne Division began escorting nine black students, the [[Little Rock Nine]], to the school doors on September 25, 1957. | + | Members of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division began escorting nine black students, the [[Little Rock Nine]], to the school doors on September 25, 1957. |
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| + | In May 1958 [[Ernest Green]] became the first African American graduate of Central High School. | ||
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| + | In a 1958 referendum Little Rock residents voted to close all public schools rather than accept integration of facilities. The prompted the formation of a number of citizen's action organizations, including the [[Capital Citizens' Council]], the [[Mother's League of Central High]], and the [[Women's Emergency Committee to Open Our Schools]]. The Little Rock Crisis is widely acknowledged as a harbinger of economic hardship and population loss for the city. No major industries entered the local marketplace until the arrival of agricultural and swimming pool pump manufacturer [[Jacuzzi Brothers]] in the early 1960s. | ||
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| + | The Civil Rights Act of 1964 which threatened to cut federal funding for schools that refused to make legitimate efforts to desegregate led to a rapid waning of resistance to integration in Little Rock schools. Between 1964 and 1965 the number of African American students in local integrated schools climbed from 213 to 621. By the 1967-1968 school year Central High had enrolled 415 black students, [[Metropolitan Vocational School]] had 142, and Hall High School had five. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| + | *Karen Anderson, "The Little Rock School Desegregation Crisis: Moderation and Social Conflict," ''Journal of Southern History'' 70.3 (August 2004): 603-637. | ||
*Shelby Steele, "The Legacy of Little Rock," ''Wall Street Journal,'' September 25, 2007. | *Shelby Steele, "The Legacy of Little Rock," ''Wall Street Journal,'' September 25, 2007. | ||
Revision as of 13:42, 31 August 2008
The Little Rock Desegregation Crisis was a national symbol of the American Civil Rights movement in 1957. The crisis was precipitated on September 4, 1957, when Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus barred the door at Central High School in order to to prevent nine black students from attending classes. Faubus called out Arkansas National Guard troops to enforce his order.
On September 23, 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered 1,000 federal troops into the capitol city to restore order and enforce a federal court order integrating Central High School. Segregationist protestors forced local police to lead the students away in the middle of the day.
Members of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division began escorting nine black students, the Little Rock Nine, to the school doors on September 25, 1957.
In May 1958 Ernest Green became the first African American graduate of Central High School.
In a 1958 referendum Little Rock residents voted to close all public schools rather than accept integration of facilities. The prompted the formation of a number of citizen's action organizations, including the Capital Citizens' Council, the Mother's League of Central High, and the Women's Emergency Committee to Open Our Schools. The Little Rock Crisis is widely acknowledged as a harbinger of economic hardship and population loss for the city. No major industries entered the local marketplace until the arrival of agricultural and swimming pool pump manufacturer Jacuzzi Brothers in the early 1960s.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 which threatened to cut federal funding for schools that refused to make legitimate efforts to desegregate led to a rapid waning of resistance to integration in Little Rock schools. Between 1964 and 1965 the number of African American students in local integrated schools climbed from 213 to 621. By the 1967-1968 school year Central High had enrolled 415 black students, Metropolitan Vocational School had 142, and Hall High School had five.
References
- Karen Anderson, "The Little Rock School Desegregation Crisis: Moderation and Social Conflict," Journal of Southern History 70.3 (August 2004): 603-637.
- Shelby Steele, "The Legacy of Little Rock," Wall Street Journal, September 25, 2007.
