As the Detroit crisis unfolded, approximately how many guardsmen and regulars were under the commander's authority at its peak?

• A. 1,000 guardsmen and 500 regulars
• B. 5,000 guardsmen and 2,000 regulars
• C. 10,000 guardsmen and 5,000 regulars
• D. 20,000 guardsmen and 6,000 regulars

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is the scale of the domestic security operation: at the peak of the Detroit crisis, a large, combined force was under one commander, totaling about 15,000 personnel—roughly 10,000 National Guardsmen and 5,000 regular Army troops. This reflects how severe the riot was and why both state-level guards and federal regulars were mobilized to restore order, enforce curfews, and protect key locations.

That level of force aligns with historical accounts of the response: enough personnel to block streets, conduct patrols, and sustain operations over several days. The other options either understate the mobilization or present a force larger than what was typically documented for the peak, making them less consistent with the reported scale of the operation.