On September 4, 1957, armed troops from the Arkansas National Guard physically blocked 9 black students from entering Central High School in Little Rock — a group that would come to be known as the Little Rock Nine. What followed was an ugly confrontation, and the images that emerged were shocking: African American students subjected to screaming, mockery, and spitting from hostile crowds. These scenes quickly spread across national and international media, making it impossible for authorities to ignore the crisis.
What came next was a deal between President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Governor Faubus. The two agreed that the Arkansas National Guard would stay posted at the school, this time to protect the African American students and allow them to attend classes. But upon his return to Arkansas, the governor pulled the National Guard out entirely, leaving only local police responsible for maintaining order.
The situation reached a breaking point on September 23, 1957. That day, the Little Rock Nine attempted once again to enter the school, slipping through a side entrance to bypass a furious mob of 1,000 people gathered outside. Their efforts were met with chaos — a full-blown riot broke out, and police had no choice but to remove the African American students from the building to protect their lives. It was at this critical moment that Woodrow Mann, the Mayor of Little Rock, called on the president to step in.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower did not take the news lightly. A military man at his core, he viewed Governor Faubus's actions as outright insubordination and refused to let his authority be undermined. Acting swiftly on that same day, Sept 23, he signed executive order 10730, placing the Arkansas National Guard under federal control. On top of that, he deployed 1,000 US Army troops from the 101st Airborne Division to Little Rock to enforce compliance as Central High School moved forward with desegregation.