What event is most often cited as a moment when Eisenhower "restored order and supremacy by force"?

Prepare for the AMSCO APUSH exam with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question includes hints and explanations. Study effectively and ace your AP U.S. History exam!

The event most often cited as a moment when Eisenhower "restored order and supremacy by force" is the Little Rock Central High desegregation crisis. In September 1957, when nine African American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, attempted to integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, they faced violent resistance from segregationists and were initially blocked from entering the school by the Arkansas National Guard, ordered there by Governor Orval Faubus.

In response to this national crisis and the images of violence and chaos that ensued, President Eisenhower took decisive action by federalizing the Arkansas National Guard and sending in U.S. Army troops to ensure the students' safety and their right to attend the school. This intervention was a significant moment in the civil rights movement and illustrated the federal government’s commitment to enforcing the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Eisenhower's actions during this crisis demonstrated his willingness to use federal power to uphold civil rights, restore order, and enforce federal law, highlighting the tension between state and federal authority during this period.

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