While the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark ruling in Brown v. Board of Education legally ended school segregation, President Dwight D. Eisenhower played a pivotal role in enforcing desegregation, particularly through his actions in the Little Rock Crisis.
The Supreme Court's Mandate: Brown v. Board of Education
The initial legal desegregation of public schools did not come from a presidential decree but from the judicial branch. On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its unanimous decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. This ruling declared state-sponsored segregation of public schools unconstitutional, overturning the "separate but equal" doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). The Court mandated that public schools be desegregated "with all deliberate speed."
President Eisenhower's Enforcement Actions
Despite the Supreme Court's ruling, resistance to desegregation was widespread, especially in the Southern states. It was during this challenging period that President Eisenhower demonstrated federal authority to uphold the Supreme Court's decision.
The Little Rock Nine Crisis
One of the most significant moments in the enforcement of school desegregation occurred in Little Rock, Arkansas. In September 1957, nine African American students, known as the "Little Rock Nine," attempted to enroll at Central High School. Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus defied federal court orders and used the Arkansas National Guard to prevent the students from entering the school, escalating the crisis.
Recognizing the need to uphold federal law and the Supreme Court's authority, President Eisenhower took decisive action:
- Executive Order 10730: On September 23, 1957, President Eisenhower signed Executive Order 10730. This order authorized the use of federal troops to maintain order and peace while the integration of Central High School took place.
- Deployment of 101st Airborne Division: Eisenhower federalized the Arkansas National Guard and dispatched elements of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division to Little Rock. These troops escorted the Little Rock Nine into the school, ensuring their safety and the enforcement of the desegregation order.
Eisenhower's actions in Little Rock marked the first time since Reconstruction that a president used federal troops to enforce civil rights, underscoring the federal government's commitment to desegregation.
Key Milestones in School Desegregation
The journey to fully desegregate American schools was long and complex, involving legislative, judicial, and executive actions.
| Event | Date | Description | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown v. Board of Education | May 17, 1954 | Supreme Court rules racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. | Judicial Mandate |
| Executive Order 10730 | Sep. 23, 1957 | President Eisenhower sends federal troops to desegregate Central High. | Presidential Enforcement |
| Civil Rights Act of 1964 | July 2, 1964 | Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in public accommodations and employment; includes provisions for school desegregation. | Legislative Reinforcement |
| Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 | April 11, 1965 | Provides federal funding to schools, linking it to desegregation efforts. | Legislative Support & Incentive |
Conclusion
While the U.S. Supreme Court legally desegregated schools with the Brown v. Board of Education decision, it was President Dwight D. Eisenhower who took a critical executive step to enforce this ruling, most notably by sending federal troops to ensure the integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. His actions demonstrated the federal government's readiness to intervene to uphold civil rights and implement judicial decisions.
