1. Warm Up # 6

2. Civil Rights and Schools
Brown v. the Board of Education and The Little Rock Nine
Civil Rights and Schools

3. Brown v. Board Read Supreme Court Case Study 37
Answer the questions in your handout.

4. Little Rock School Integration Crisis
Read the short excerpt on your handout

5. Little Rock – Background
1955 – school districts told to integrate “with all deliberate speed”
The Little Rock School Board adopted a plan for integration
After some pressure from the NAACP
In September of 1957 they would begin integration at the high schools
The first school to integrate would be Central High School

6. Little Rock Nine – Background
Nine students, recruited by the NAACP president of Arkansas
All students were vetted to ensure they had the strength and determination to face the resistance they would encounter
Prior to starting school they all participated in intensive counseling to help them understand what to expect and how to respond.

7. Timeline
September 2, 1957
Faubus calls in National Guard to keep black students from entering Central High
In a televised address, Faubus insisted that violence and bloodshed might break out if black students were allowed to enter the school

8. Timeline
September 4, 1957
The Little Rock Nine arrived for the first day of school at Central High School
Eight of the nine arrived together
Arkansas National Guard prevented any of the Little Rock Nine from entering Central High School
Elizabeth Eckford arrived alone and faced the jeering crowd

9. Timeline
September 14, 1957
Ike met with Faubus, Ike wants to ensure that the National Guard isn’t preventing entry
Faubus says he intends to allow integration, but that it will take time in order to avoid violence
President Eisenhower met with Governor Faubus in Newport, Rhode Island
Faubus requested the meeting, Eisenhower wanted to ensure that the National Guardsmen would not be preventing the entry of African-American students to Central High School
Faubus told Eisenhower of his intent to respect the decisions of the US District Court regarding the desegregation of schools, though he admitted it would take time and that part of his job as governor was to “protect the people from violence in any form”

10. Timeline
September 20, 1957
US District Court Judge Davies ordered that the Arkansas National Guard be removed
In order to maintain order, the National Guard will be replaced by the Little Rock Police Department

11. Timeline
September 23, 1957
The Little Rock Police escort the Little Rock Nine to school amidst protests
The Little Rock Police were able to sneak the nine students in early, before a majority of the crowd had gathered.
When the protestors discovered that the nine had been snuck in a riot ensued outside and the Little Rock Nine were removed from the school to ensure their safety

12. Timeline
September 24, 1957
President Eisenhower sent in 1,200 members of the US Army’s 101st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, Kentucky
The 101st is placed in charge of the 10,000 federalized National Guardsmen
Picture is of Eisenhower talking to the 101st prior to D-day during WWII

13. Timeline
September 25, 1957
The Little Rock Nine attend their first full day of classes
Escorted by the 101st Airborne

14. Timeline
May 27, 1958
The oldest Little Rock Nine student, Ernest Green, is the first black student to graduate from Central High
Picture is of Green receiving his diploma from his high school principal

15. Little Rock Nine Videos Eyes on the Prize (from 6:03-30:00)

16. Analysis
Reflect upon the method of integration used in Little Rock. Could the process of integration have gone more smoothly? Why or why not?