The Choices Eisenhower and Faubus Made in Little Rock

Lesson Plan

Activity 1: Make Predictions About the Choices of Elected Leaders

Remind students that in the previous lesson, they explored Elizabeth Eckford’s experience on what was supposed to be her first day of school as she confronted the angry mob gathered outside Central High. Today in class, students will be exploring how elected leaders—President Eisenhower and Arkansas governor Orval Faubus—responded to the brewing crisis in Little Rock.

Begin by dividing the class into groups of three or four students. Explain that they will be learning some information about both President Eisenhower and Governor Faubus in order to make predictions in their small groups about how each leader will respond. 

Pass out the handout Statements on President Eisenhower and Governor Faubus. Read each statement from the handout aloud, and give students time to discuss their predictions in their small groups. 

Regroup as a whole class, and ask volunteers to share their predictions from the activity. 

Activity 2: Watch a Film Clip About the Little Rock Crisis 

Explain that millions of Americans watched the crisis in Little Rock unfold on television. Students will watch excerpts from this footage to better understand the crisis and the choices leaders made.

Show students a clip from the documentary film Teach Us All (4:26–8:53), beginning with the introduction of Elizabeth Eckford and ending with the Little Rock Nine being escorted into Central High School by federal troops (approximately four minutes). To support students that are learning English, you may want to watch this clip more than once. Ask students to complete the Viewing Guide for Teach Us All by responding to the following questions as they watch:

• How would you describe the crowd that formed outside Little Rock Central High School on the first day of school?
• On September 2, 1957, Governor Orval Faubus sent the Arkansas National Guard to Central High School. What was his purpose for sending the National Guard?
• On September 25, 1957, federal troops escorted the Little Rock Nine to classes at Central High. Why did President Eisenhower deploy federal troops to Little Rock?

After watching the video, ask volunteers to share their responses to the viewing guide, and discuss how each leader’s actions compared to the predictions they made in Activity 1. 

Activity 3: Analyze the Choices of Eisenhower and Faubus

Finally, give students the opportunity to dig deeper into the choices of each leader and connect to the essential question. Lead a class discussion centered around two or more of the following questions. 

• What factors influenced the choices that Eisenhower and Faubus made in response to the integration of Central High School? 
• What impact do you think both leaders’ choices had on democracy in the community of Little Rock? In the nation? 
• Consider this quote from President Eisenhower: “[I believe] that every citizen—of every race and creed—deserves to enjoy equal civil rights and liberties, for there can be no such citizen in a democracy as a half-free citizen.” Do you believe that Eisenhower’s actions during the crisis in Little Rock reflect the beliefs expressed in this quote? Why or why not?
• What does today’s lesson teach us about the role of elected officials in strengthening or weakening a democracy?