Why did Eisenhower send the National Guard to Little Rock?
A.
to enforce the desegregation policies mandated by law
B.
to create new desegregation policies included in his agenda
C.
to create schools that were integrated by choice, not by force
D.
to enforce the formation of segregated schools that were more equal
A. to enforce the desegregation policies mandated by law.
The correct answer is A. Eisenhower sent the National Guard to Little Rock to enforce the desegregation policies mandated by law.
To determine the correct answer, one must have a basic understanding of the historical events surrounding the integration of schools in Little Rock. In 1954, the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling in the case of Brown v. Board of Education, declaring that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. This decision paved the way for the desegregation of schools across the United States.
However, many southern states, including Arkansas, resisted the implementation of the Supreme Court's ruling. In 1957, when Little Rock's Central High School was scheduled to admit its first African American students, the governor of Arkansas, Orval Faubus, deployed the Arkansas National Guard to prevent their entry. This action was a direct challenge to the federal government's authority and the Supreme Court's ruling.
In response, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who believed in upholding the rule of law, ordered federal troops to Little Rock. Specifically, he federalized the Arkansas National Guard and used it to enforce the desegregation policies mandated by the courts. This action, known as the Little Rock Crisis, aimed to ensure that African American students could attend Central High School without facing violent opposition.
Therefore, option A is the correct answer as it accurately reflects Eisenhower's intent in sending the National Guard to Little Rock.