Why was it necessary for the president to call up the National Guard to maintain the peace and establish a presence outside some schools and universities? Several schools and universities, some at the direction of the state governor, refused to desegregate their schools and were then in violation of federal law.

Teachers went on strike, and the National Guard stepped in to teach classes.

So many students rushed to enroll in the recently desegregated schools that chaos ensued.

The former all-black schools were closed and now stood empty, which created a safety hazard for the community.