Final answer:
The Plessy v Ferguson case was a Supreme Court case in 1896 that established the separate but equal doctrine, allowing for racial segregation. This case had a significant impact as it legitimized Jim Crow laws and racial discrimination until it was overturned in 1954.
Step-by-step explanation:
Plessy v Ferguson Case
The Plessy v Ferguson case was a landmark Supreme Court case in 1896 that dealt with the issue of racial segregation in the United States. Homer Plessy, who was 1/8th African American, was arrested for refusing to leave a whites-only railroad car. The Supreme Court held that racial segregation was constitutional as long as the separate facilities were equal, which became known as the separate but equal doctrine.
Impact of the Case
The Plessy v Ferguson case legitimized racial segregation and allowed for the establishment of Jim Crow laws across the country. These laws enforced segregation in public facilities such as schools, transportation, and restrooms, perpetuating racial discrimination and inequality for decades. The case was not overturned until the landmark Brown v Board of Education case in 1954, which declared that separate but equal was inherently unequal and violated the Constitution.
Learn more about Plessy v Ferguson case and its impact