Plessy v. Ferguson

Definition

Plessy v. Ferguson was a landmark 1896 Supreme Court case that upheld the doctrine of 'separate but equal' racial segregation laws. The decision established a legal precedent that allowed for the segregation of public facilities, such as transportation and schools, based on race.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Plessy v. Ferguson upheld the constitutionality of state laws requiring racial segregation in public facilities under the 'separate but equal' doctrine.
2. The case involved Homer Plessy, a man of mixed-race ancestry who was arrested for refusing to leave a whites-only train car in Louisiana.
3. The Supreme Court's 7-1 decision in Plessy v. Ferguson effectively overturned the Civil Rights Act of 1875, which had prohibited discrimination in public accommodations.
4. The Plessy v. Ferguson decision entrenched the 'separate but equal' doctrine, which was used to justify racial segregation in the United States for over 50 years.
5. The Plessy v. Ferguson decision was a major setback for the African American struggle for equality and was not overturned until the landmark 1954 case of Brown v. Board of Education.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Plessy v. Ferguson decision influenced the evolution of American federalism.
  • The Plessy v. Ferguson decision had a significant impact on the evolution of American federalism by upholding the doctrine of 'separate but equal' and granting states the authority to enact laws that segregated public facilities based on race. This decision effectively overturned the Civil Rights Act of 1875, which had prohibited discrimination in public accommodations, and empowered state governments to maintain and enforce racial segregation policies. The Plessy v. Ferguson ruling entrenched the concept of 'separate but equal' and reinforced the balance of power between the federal government and the states, with the Supreme Court siding with the states' rights to regulate public facilities along racial lines.
• Analyze how the Plessy v. Ferguson decision influenced the African American struggle for equality.
  • The Plessy v. Ferguson decision was a major setback for the African American struggle for equality. By upholding the 'separate but equal' doctrine, the Supreme Court's ruling effectively sanctioned racial segregation in public facilities, denying African Americans equal access and opportunity. This decision undermined the promises of the Fourteenth Amendment and the Civil Rights Act of 1875, further entrenching the systemic discrimination and inequality faced by African Americans. The Plessy v. Ferguson ruling emboldened state and local governments to enact and enforce segregation laws, which remained in place for over 50 years until the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954 finally overturned the 'separate but equal' doctrine.
• Evaluate the long-term impact of the Plessy v. Ferguson decision on the evolution of civil rights and the African American struggle for equality in the United States.
  • The Plessy v. Ferguson decision had a profoundly negative and long-lasting impact on the evolution of civil rights and the African American struggle for equality in the United States. By upholding the 'separate but equal' doctrine, the Supreme Court's ruling effectively sanctioned and perpetuated the systemic oppression and discrimination faced by African Americans for over half a century. The Plessy v. Ferguson decision entrenched the legal framework for racial segregation, denying African Americans equal access to public facilities and opportunities. This ruling was a major setback in the fight for civil rights, as it undermined the promises of the Fourteenth Amendment and empowered state and local governments to maintain and enforce discriminatory policies. The legacy of Plessy v. Ferguson continued to shape the African American struggle for equality, ultimately necessitating the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954 to finally overturn the 'separate but equal' doctrine and pave the way for the modern civil rights movement.

Related terms

Separate but Equal: The doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson that allowed for the segregation of public facilities as long as the facilities provided for each race were equal in quality.

Civil Rights Act of 1875: A federal law that prohibited discrimination in public accommodations, which was later ruled unconstitutional in the Plessy v. Ferguson decision.

Fourteenth Amendment:

The constitutional amendment that guaranteed equal protection under the law, which the Plessy v. Ferguson decision claimed was not violated by the 'separate but equal' doctrine.