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Brown vs. Board of Education
On May 17, 1954, the case of the Brown vs. Board of Education was closed.They decided that having schools that were 'separate but equal' were really not equal and that not allowing African American students in to white school was unconstitutional. -
Little Rock School Board says will comply
The Little Rock School Board issues a policy statement saying it will comply with the Brown vs. School Board (of Topeka KS) decision, but that they need to know the method and timeframe required -
Virgil Blossom Plan adopted
Little Rock School Board agrees to a plan developed by Virgil Blossom, school superintendent, that said integration would start in 1957 in the high schools and be phased in -
NAACP sues to have 33 black children admitted
NAACP, or the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, sues the Little Rock School Board because 33 black children tried to enroll in white schools and were denied -
Federal Judge John E. Miller dismisses the NAACP suit.
Federal Judge John E. Miller dismissed the NAACP suit by saying that the Little Rock High School Board was in "utmost good faith." -
Governor Orval Faubus's Calls in National Guard
Governor Orval Faubus orders the Arkansas National Guard to come to the Little Rock Central High School supposedly to keep the peace. He had really required them to not allow African American students to enter the high school. -
Little Rock Nine Tries to Attend White High School
Nine African American students who were chosen by the NAACP walked onto the Little Rock High School campus. They thought the National Guard was there to protect them, but instead they were sent home. -
Little Rock Nine Go Back to School
President Eisenhower gets over 1,000 troops from the 101st Airborne Division to go to Little Rock Central High School. With their help, the Little Rock Nine successfully enter the school. An angry mob of over 1,000 whites came infront of the high school to protest against the African Americans going to the same high school as whites. -
Graduation
Ernest Green was the first African American student to graduate from Central High School. -
Supreme Court says Little Rock must integrate
The Supreme Court rules that Little Rock must go ahead with its integration as planned -
Gov Faubus Closes Public High Schools
Little Rock School Board orders its public high schools to open in a desegregated way. Arkansas Governor Faubus disagrees, and gets laws passed to close down the public high schools in Little Rock. This begins what is known as "The Lost Year". Most whites were able to go to private high schools, but many blacks just didn't get to go to school that year. -
High Schools Re-open
Little Rock High School re-opens almost a month early. Police men and the fire department had to break up the mob. 21 people from the mob were arrested. -
Civil Rights Act Passed
The Civil Rights Act was signed into law by President Johnson. The bravery of the Little Rock Nine, and the incidents that occured in Little Rock in the late 1950s provided some of the foundation of the civil rights movement and resulted in the passing of thsi important law.
