Plessy v. Ferguson
One of the most famous court cases to ever occur was the Plessy v. Ferguson case. After the Reconstruction, many state legislatures decided to legalize Jim Crow laws which would legally segregate races. As a result, Louisiana passed a law stating that all trains must have designated seating for people of different races. Trains with two or more cars should have people of different races in separate cars, but trains with only one car should separate the races with a curtain. Many African Americans were upset and offended by these new laws. On June 7, 1892, Homer Plessy was arrested for sitting in the "white" car on the East Louisiana railroad. Plessy was only one eighth black because he only had one African American grandparent and did not identify himself as an African American. However, he was arrested and used this opportunity to start a court case and fight for equal rights of African Americans.
He argued police arresting him violated not only the thirteenth, but also the fourteenth amendment. His case made it all the way to the Supreme Court, and thus the Plessy vs. Ferguson court case came about. Plessy said that the Equal Protection Clause of the fourteenth amendment had been violated. He felt that separate facilities were a true violation of that clause and he felt that he had been denied citizenship rights. He felt that this made the Louisiana law unconstitutional.
The state of Louisiana argued that each state has the right to make rules for the protection of public safety. They said they had done their job by providing separate but equal facilities. Supreme Court Justice Henry Billings Brown was appointed by President Benjamin Harrison to preside over this case. The court came back with a 7-1 decision, meaning that Plessy had lost the case. The Supreme Court Justice said that the law did not violate the thirteenth or fourteenth amendment. He tried to defend the thirteenth amendment by saying that it only applied to slavery. He said the fourteenth amendment was intended to give African Americans political and civil equality with white people. It had not been meant to give them social equality.
This case set the "separate but equal" precedent that would be a benchmark for many future court cases.
By: Haley G.
He argued police arresting him violated not only the thirteenth, but also the fourteenth amendment. His case made it all the way to the Supreme Court, and thus the Plessy vs. Ferguson court case came about. Plessy said that the Equal Protection Clause of the fourteenth amendment had been violated. He felt that separate facilities were a true violation of that clause and he felt that he had been denied citizenship rights. He felt that this made the Louisiana law unconstitutional.
The state of Louisiana argued that each state has the right to make rules for the protection of public safety. They said they had done their job by providing separate but equal facilities. Supreme Court Justice Henry Billings Brown was appointed by President Benjamin Harrison to preside over this case. The court came back with a 7-1 decision, meaning that Plessy had lost the case. The Supreme Court Justice said that the law did not violate the thirteenth or fourteenth amendment. He tried to defend the thirteenth amendment by saying that it only applied to slavery. He said the fourteenth amendment was intended to give African Americans political and civil equality with white people. It had not been meant to give them social equality.
This case set the "separate but equal" precedent that would be a benchmark for many future court cases.
By: Haley G.
Brown v. Board of Education
During the early 1950s, schools in America were segregated by races as a result of segregation laws. Even though school systems were instructed to have schools of equal quality for both African American and white students, most did not. Schools or classrooms for African- American children were often given old and outdated books and other school supplies.
The court case Brown v. Board of Education came about when an African American third- grader, Linda Brown, was denied the right to enroll in a white school. She lived with her family in Topeka, Kansas. The white school was only seven blocks away from her house, but she was forced to walk over a mile through a railroad switchyard to get to her school. Oliver Brown, Linda's father, went to the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) for assistance in getting his daughter enrolled in the white school. He was a well- respected member of the community and was a welder, war veteran, and assistant pastor. When the NAACP was unable help after several tries, Oliver Brown decided to take the matter to court.
Supreme Court Justice, Earl Warren, was appointed to the Brown v. Board of Education court case. Brown's side argued that having separate schools based on race could have long- lasting harm on African American children. They said legal segregation resulted in unequal education opportunities as well as low self- esteem for African American students. They argued that legal segregation implied that African Americans were inferior to whites. The lawyers for the Board of Education in Topeka argued that separate schools for black and white students were equal as well as okay because of the precedent set in Plessy v. Ferguson. They said both schools had equal classes and teachers. In the conclusion of this case, there were nine votes in support of Brown and none in support of the Board of Education.
The ruling of this this case was very important because it marked the end of the “separate but equal” precedent. It was decided that the “Equal Protection Clause” of the Fourteenth Amendment was violated when children were separated in schools due to their race. After making this decision, the court declared, “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.
By: Haley G.
The court case Brown v. Board of Education came about when an African American third- grader, Linda Brown, was denied the right to enroll in a white school. She lived with her family in Topeka, Kansas. The white school was only seven blocks away from her house, but she was forced to walk over a mile through a railroad switchyard to get to her school. Oliver Brown, Linda's father, went to the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) for assistance in getting his daughter enrolled in the white school. He was a well- respected member of the community and was a welder, war veteran, and assistant pastor. When the NAACP was unable help after several tries, Oliver Brown decided to take the matter to court.
Supreme Court Justice, Earl Warren, was appointed to the Brown v. Board of Education court case. Brown's side argued that having separate schools based on race could have long- lasting harm on African American children. They said legal segregation resulted in unequal education opportunities as well as low self- esteem for African American students. They argued that legal segregation implied that African Americans were inferior to whites. The lawyers for the Board of Education in Topeka argued that separate schools for black and white students were equal as well as okay because of the precedent set in Plessy v. Ferguson. They said both schools had equal classes and teachers. In the conclusion of this case, there were nine votes in support of Brown and none in support of the Board of Education.
The ruling of this this case was very important because it marked the end of the “separate but equal” precedent. It was decided that the “Equal Protection Clause” of the Fourteenth Amendment was violated when children were separated in schools due to their race. After making this decision, the court declared, “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.
By: Haley G.