Question

the brown v. board of education of topeka, kansas ruling (1954) held that racial segregation in schools violated the group of answer choices establishment clause of the first amendment. due process clause of the fourteenth amendment. civil rights act. equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment. due process clause of the fifth amendment.

Answer 1

The Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954 declared that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and overturning 'separate but equal'.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas ruling in 1954 is a significant milestone in the history of civil rights in the United States. This landmark case led by the Supreme Court held that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional as it violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The decision overturned the 'separate but equal' doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896. The case consolidated five separate lawsuits, which were all sponsored by the NAACP.

Furthermore, this ruling played a critical role in the broader civil rights movement, setting the stage for future legislation and court decisions that aimed to eradicate racial segregation and discrimination in various sectors of society. The unanimous decision also highlighted that segregated schools, even if purportedly 'equal' in quality, inflicted harm by endorsing the notion of African Americans being inherently inferior.