What happened during Little Rock’s “Lost Year”?
A. Governor Faubus closed the Little Rock schools to both blacks and whites.
B. African Americans were ordered to remain in segregated schools.
C. Governor Faubus put desegregation on hold pending a Supreme Court ruling.
D. Little Rock schools experienced an undue amount of violence.
A. Governor Faubus closed the Little Rock schools to both blacks and whites during Little Rock's "Lost Year" (1958-1959).
The correct answer is C. During Little Rock's "Lost Year," Governor Faubus put desegregation on hold pending a Supreme Court ruling.
To arrive at this answer, we need to have some background knowledge about the historical context. The "Lost Year" refers to a period in the 1950s when progress toward racial integration in schools was halted in Little Rock, Arkansas.
In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled in the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education that segregated schools were unconstitutional. This decision mandated the desegregation of public schools across the United States.
However, in Little Rock, Governor Orval Faubus strongly opposed the integration of public schools and sought to delay the process. On September 4, 1957, when a group of nine African American students, known as the "Little Rock Nine," attempted to enter Little Rock Central High School, they were met with intense opposition from a white mob. This event became a significant turning point in the desegregation struggle.
In response to the violent protests, Governor Faubus ordered the Arkansas National Guard to prevent the African American students from entering the school. This action effectively closed the Little Rock schools, as both black and white students were denied access.
Governor Faubus's decision to close the schools and halt desegregation was met with national and international backlash, prompting President Dwight D. Eisenhower to intervene. He deployed federal troops, known as the 101st Airborne Division, to ensure the safe entry of the Little Rock Nine into the school on September 25, 1957.
From the given options, options A and B are incorrect because they state that the schools were closed to both blacks and whites, or African Americans were ordered to remain in segregated schools. The reality was that Governor Faubus closed the schools as a response to the integration of black students. Option D is also incorrect as it refers to violence experienced by the Little Rock schools, but does not capture the specific events of the "Lost Year."
Therefore, option C, Governor Faubus putting desegregation on hold pending a Supreme Court ruling, is the correct answer.