What action did President Eisenhower take during the desegregation of Little Rock?

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During the desegregation crisis at Little Rock Central High School in 1957, President Eisenhower took decisive action by federalizing the National Guard. This move was necessary because the Arkansas governor, Orval Faubus, had ordered the National Guard to prevent African American students from entering the school, effectively obstructing the court's desegregation order. By federalizing the National Guard, Eisenhower placed the troops under federal control, allowing them to protect the students and ensure their right to attend the school as mandated by the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision.

Furthermore, Eisenhower later deployed the 101st Airborne Division to Little Rock to provide additional support. This intervention underscored his commitment to upholding federal law and civil rights during a period of significant tension and resistance against school desegregation in the South. His actions demonstrated the federal government's role in enforcing desegregation and protecting the rights of African American students in the face of state opposition.

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