The Little Rock Crisis Essay

Lots of areas in the U.S. had segregated schools in 1954, held by “separate but equal.” In 1954, the NAACP was trying to end segregation. They filed class actions schools in Kansas, South Carolina, Virginia, and Delaware, on behalf of the students and their families, trying to integrate schools. One of the most prominent cases was Brown v. Board of Education. Oliver Brown, the plaintiff, claimed that Topeka’s segregation violated the Equal Protection Laws Clause. He claimed segregated schools were not equal. This case went to the Supreme Court after the lower-level courts ruled that school the school segregations were equal to be constitutional.

Education has long been regarded as a valuable asset for all of America's youth. Yet, when this benefit is denied to a specific group, measures must be taken to protect its educational right. In the 1950's, a courageous group of activists launched a legal attack on segregation in schools. At the head of this attack was NAACP attorney Thurgood Marshall; his legal strategies would contribute greatly to the dissolution of educational segregation.

In 1951 schools were separated by skin color, or segregated. The Brown v. Board of Education trial was brought to court because a third-grader, Linda Brown, was not allowed to attend the elementary school that was closest to her house. She wa required to take the bus to school across town instead. In the trial the point that “Education for Negroes is almost nonexistent(13).” This is an example of how there were old problems in the Fourteenth Amendment that needed to be changed. Another issue that was brought up in the trial was that, “Segregation… has a tendency to retard the educational and mental development of negro children…(19).” Without the proper education at segregated

President Eisenhower was validated in sending troops to Little Rock Arkansas. One reason is that it was his duty to execute the laws. In the 14th amendment, it states “ The president…. Shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” Eisenhower, who was president at the time, had the job of carrying out the laws, it is his job to execute them no matter what. Also in Eisenhower’s Address to the nation, it states “ Executive

Topeka, Kansas, 1950, a young African-American girl named Linda Brown had to walk a mile to get to her school, crossing a railroad switchyard. She lived seven blocks from an all white school. Linda’s father, Oliver, tried to enroll her into the all white school. The school denied her because of the color of her skin. Segregation was widespread throughout our nation. Blacks believed that the “separate but equal” saying was false. They felt that whites had more educational opportunities. Mr. Brown, along with the NAACP and many civic leaders, fought for equal educational rights for all races. Brown v. The Board of Education case and the events leading up to it had a positive effect on education and society.

"Before 1954 most public school systems in the south- and some in the north as well-were racially segregated"(Tackach 8). Although the basis for the case was that

A year later, the courts made a decision in Brown II that “school officials proceed with all deliberate speed as they forged school systems not based on color distinction” (Anderson 4). Once these changes for African Americans began, supporters of segregation became more determined to remain the majority in power. Whites were upset that federal authorities overrode their desires and “sponsored a dangerous inversion of the South’s cherished traditions and the nation’s racial heritage” (Anderson 4). In their minds, blacks did not have a right to become educated, to have money, or to even be in the same category as them. White considered themselves racially superior and wanted it to remain that way.

The Supreme Court ruled that segregation in public school systems violated the Constitution on May 17, 1954. The Courts decision faced great resistance from whites in the South. They threatened with violence, intimidation and other means as a reaction of the decision. After the decision, things were not easy and struggles remained. But through it all, it was victorious. The implementation (Brown II v. Board of Education) proved to be difficult. “Lawyers can do right, they can do good, but they have their limits. The rest of the job is up to society” (Patterson, 2001, pp

Nevertheless, some schools ignored this fact and continuously defiled the rights of African Americans. In 1953 ─ the year Brown went to the Supreme court─ segregation was required within seventeen U.S. states, taking up about thirty-four percent of the country; whereas, segregation was optional within four U.S states and forbidden within sixteen U.S states. No specific legislation concerning segregation was passed in the remaining states; though, this does not mean that it was non-existent (Document H). Segregated schools were of course separate; inevitably, they were nowhere near equal. In the schools attended by white children, the children learned basic and general education including English, math, and history.

Across the planet earth, there are some 196 sovereign countries that each have their own independent ways of ruling the people of their land. Whether it be a monarch, a dictator, or a president, no one in the world beckons such a large power as the President of the United States. This man or woman is in charge of one of the most powerful countries in the world, and that person makes vital decisions daily that could change the fate of their nation they lead so graciously. Through 44 presidents, the United States has seen its share of wars, problems, fights, and scandals. Whether international, continental, or national, these 44 men have gotten through the toughest of times to lead the nation toward prosperous times and even more prosperous futures. One of these presidents, though, has caused what has come to be known as one of the biggest scandals to ever rock a presidency to its core. Richard Nixon was an adored man, but when he got caught trying to secure success for his campaign, it ended disastrously for him

When Earl Warren came to Washington, D.C. to assume the role of Chief Justice, he brought with him an awe of the Supreme Court. That was one reason that in his first few months, he played a passive role on the Court as he held back hoping to get a better sense of how the Court operated and what his role would be (White, 1982). However, he would not be allowed to continue to take that inactive stance for very long. By December, 1953, five cases came along that were lumped together and were thereafter known as Brown v. Board of Education. It was this case that established Earl Warren’s role on Supreme

Writing for the court, Chief Justice Earl Warren argued that the question of whether racially segregated public schools were inherently unequal, and thus beyond the scope of the separate but equal doctrine, could be answered only by considering “the effect of segregation itself on public education.” Citing the Supreme Court’s rulings in Sweat v. Painter (1950), and McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (1950), which recognized “intangible” inequalities between African American and all-white schools at the graduate

During 1954-1968, there were many different points of view towards African Americans. Some were on their side, while others wanted to lynch them. Cases such as Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Education made sure that African Americans and whites were “separate but equal.” Many had obligations during the Civil Rights Movement, such as the NAACP, eager to integrate the grueling school of Central High or the SNCC making their moves to establish a non-violent protest throughout the South. Little Rock’s nine went to Central knowing what was going to go down, but what they also knew was that it was their obligation to make “separate

The presidency, even though loose in definition, upholds high standards for this country and are often the face of emotion and strength for America. The presidency is much more than just an institution or title, it is the focus for the most intense and persistent emotions in the American polity. The president is a symbolic leader, the one figure who draws together the people’s hopes and fears for the political future. He or she strives to help people make sense of politics. The support he or she has from the public and interest groups, the party balance in COngress, the thrust of the Supreme COurt opinion together set the basic power situation he must deal with. The president should be a “master politician” who is above all politics. Each President defines a unique leadership role that is strategic choice to enhance political

Schools were segregated and black and white children attended different schools. The schools that the white children went to were better taught, they had better resources to teach them appropriately and had quality educators. But the blacks did not have the same quality education and lacked good resources. Many believed this to be wrong and tried to do anything to stop it. Even the NAACP had been working for a longtime to overturn the Supreme Court case of Plessy vs. Ferguson, which allowed segregation to exist. And in May of 1954 in the Brown Board of Education Supreme Court case, chief justice Earl Warren ruled that separate school facilities were unequal. As a result he made a ruling which made segregation in schools illegal and unconstitutional. As it is looking like it’ll be a successful outcome for African Americans, some people didn’t want them to have any success. One of the first responses around the states were something along the lines of, “Although the Supreme Court states it, it doesn’t mean we have to follow the ruling”. There was a lot of resistance against the ruling and even some people opposed it like Little Rock Arkansas did in 1956. The governor at the time even called out the state National Guard who surrounded the public school that prohibited black students from entering and starting school. President Eisenhower didn’t like this and believed it