Final answer:
Governor Orval Faubus defied a federal court order for school desegregation, leading to a confrontation with federal authorities that resulted in President Eisenhower federalizing the National Guard to enforce integration.
Step-by-step explanation:
As noted in the video Federalism and The Little Rock Nine, Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus disregarded the federal court decree requiring the desegregation of the Little Rock public schools based on his interpretation of the state's rights and sovereignty. In 1957, in an intense showdown between state and federal authorities, Faubus called the Arkansas National Guard to prevent the integration of African American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, into Central High School, defying the court order. This action led to a constitutional crisis, prompting President Eisenhower to federalize the National Guard and send in the 101st Airborne Division to enforce integration and protect the students. Despite the federal intervention, Faubus continued to resist integration by even shutting down Little Rock public schools the following year.