Question

The Plessy v. Ferguson 1896 decision allowed continued discrimination against African Americans, and it became pervasive throughout the South through the enactment of______.

Answer 1

The Plessy v. Ferguson decision led to the enforcement of Jim Crow laws, legalizing racial segregation in public facilities in the South under the guise of 'separate but equal' until overturned by the Brown v. Board of Education case in 1954.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Plessy v. Ferguson 1896 decision allowed continued discrimination against African Americans, enforcing a legal system of segregation through what became known as Jim Crow laws. These laws mandated the separation of races in public spaces and facilities in the South, significantly impacting the daily lives of African Americans by instituting widespread racial segregation.

Enacted after the Civil War, Jim Crow laws enforced de jure segregation in all aspects of public life, including schools, transportation, restrooms, and restaurants. The Supreme Court's ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson supported the 'separate but equal' doctrine, allowing states to maintain unequal and segregated facilities so long as they were purportedly providing equal services to both Black and White individuals.

This interpretation of the law stood until the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954, which began the process of desegregation in public schools and signaled the end of de jure segregation.

Answer 2

The Plessy v. Ferguson decision solidified 'separate but equal' policies, leading to the establishment of Jim Crow laws that enforced racial segregation until overturned by Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Plessy v. Ferguson 1896 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the doctrine of 'separate but equal,' allowing states to maintain Jim Crow laws that mandated racial segregation. These laws required the separation of Black and White individuals in various public and private settings, such as schools, public transport, and restrooms. Although the facilities were supposed to be equal, the reality was that those allocated for African Americans were often significantly inferior. This reinforced a system of institutionalized racial discrimination, particularly in the Southern states, that lasted until the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954, which declared that 'separate educational facilities are inherently unequal' and began the process of desegregation.

By endorsing the segregationist doctrine, Plessy v. Ferguson played a crucial role in the proliferation of de jure segregation, giving legal cover for the widespread and systemic oppression of Black Americans.