Final answer:
The Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was an interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court ruled that racially segregated schools violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was an interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment. This case was brought by students who were denied admission to certain public schools based on their race. The Supreme Court ruled that racially segregated schools violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
The Brown v. Board of Education landmark case, argued in 1954, marked a pivotal moment in American legal history, addressing the deeply entrenched issue of racial segregation in public schools. The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Earl Warren, interpreted the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause to declare state-sponsored segregation inherently unequal. This decision overturned the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896, which had upheld "separate but equal" facilities. Brown v. Board of Education fueled the Civil Rights Movement, challenging institutionalized racism and catalyzing desegregation efforts. Its profound impact extended beyond education, influencing subsequent legal battles and legislative measures aimed at dismantling systemic racial discrimination across various facets of American society.