Civil Rights Movement Practice Test 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Orval Faubus, the governor of Arkansas, resisted desegregation at Central High School in Little Rock after the Brown v. Board of Education ruling. He called out the Arkansas National Guard to block the entry of nine Black students, illustrating state-level opposition to federal civil rights mandates. In response, President Eisenhower federalized the Guard and sent in the 101st Airborne to enforce the law and escort the students, making it clear that federal authority would uphold desegregation. This episode shows how national power intervened to enforce civil rights despite local resistance. Note: the correct name is Orval Faubus; “Orville” is a common misspelling.