Presidential Power: The Georgia Journal Page 1
The September 28, 1957, Georgia Journal featured an article on the laws giving President Eisenhower the power to send troops to Little Rock. The author noted they did not write or influence these laws and warned that such presidential authority could be misused. The Insurrection Act of 1807 was amended in 1956 to expand the federal authority should states fail to follow federal laws in the wake of the rising Civil Rights protests.
Federal Aid for State Governments: The Georgia Journal Page 1
Section 331 of the Insurrection Act lets the President send in federal troops to enforce laws and keep order when states cannot obey the federal laws. This was one of the justifications for sending federal troops.
Use of Militia and Armed Forces to Enforce Federal Authority: The Georgia Journal Page 1
Section 332 allows the President to use military force to handle situations where state or local governments cannot maintain order and enforce federal laws, especially in cases of serious unrest or rebellion.
Interference with State and Federal Law: The Georgia Journal Page 1
Section 333 allows for the President to take control of a dangerous situation, such as mob violence if it is in direct protest of legally protected activities.
Proclamation to Disperse: The Georgia Journal Page 1
Section 334 gives the President the power to step in and deploy federal troops if a state authority cannot control the situation and this was the case in Little Rock as the Arkansas State National Guard was forbidding the students from entering the school.
This Guide was created by VSU Graduate Students in Summer 2024 as a part of the HIST 6215: Public History Virtual Exhibit Project.
For more information about online exhibits or the collections contained in the VSU Archives, please see the Archives and Special Collections, at Archives and Special Collections
