Explain how the Supreme Court cases Plessy v Ferguson and Brown v Board of Education are related. Explain the effect(s) these cases had on US citizens.
In 150 words or less
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and Brown v. Board of Education (1954) were landmark Supreme Court cases concerning racial segregation in the United States. Plessy upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine, which posited that separate facilities for blacks and whites were legal as long as they were of equal quality. This decision provided legal justification for segregation and discrimination for nearly six decades.
Brown v. Board of Education directly challenged the "separate but equal" doctrine, ruling that racial segregation in public schools was inherently unequal and therefore unconstitutional. This monumental case marked the beginning of the end for state-sponsored segregation and was a significant victory for the civil rights movement. It mandated desegregation and laid the groundwork for further civil rights advancements.
Together, these cases capture the evolution from institutionalized segregation to a legal framework aimed at equality. Their effects on U.S. citizens were profound, fundamentally altering the fabric of American society by contributing to the dismantling of segregation and promoting civil liberties for African Americans.