The Little Rock Nine

What happened

In September 1957 nine Black students sought to enrol at all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. When the governor called out the National Guard to block them, President Eisenhower sent in the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division to escort the students into the school.

Why it matters

The Little Rock crisis forced the federal government to enforce school desegregation, and showed the nation the fierce resistance civil rights would meet.

Sources

• National Park Service. The Little Rock Nine · Reputable source