GED Social Studies TestU.S. HistoryMedium
A political analyst is discussing the impact of landmark Supreme Court decisions on American society. The decision in *Brown v. Board of Education* (1954) most directly challenged the legal precedent established by which earlier Supreme Court ruling?
- A*Marbury v. Madison* (1803), which established judicial review.
- B*McCulloch v. Maryland* (1819), which affirmed federal power over states.
- C*Dred Scott v. Sandford* (1857), which denied citizenship to African Americans.
- D*Plessy v. Ferguson* (1896), which upheld 'separate but equal' segregation.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. *Plessy v. Ferguson* (1896), which upheld 'separate but equal' segregation.
*Brown v. Board of Education* famously ruled that 'separate but equal' in public education was unconstitutional. This directly overturned the legal basis for segregation established by the *Plessy v. Ferguson* decision, which had allowed for racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. *Marbury v. Madison* established judicial review and is not directly related to segregation or the 'separate but equal' doctrine.
- B. *McCulloch v. Maryland* dealt with federal supremacy and implied powers, not racial segregation.
- C. *Dred Scott v. Sandford* denied citizenship and rights to African Americans, but *Plessy v. Ferguson* was the specific ruling that established the 'separate but equal' doctrine that *Brown* challenged.
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
A landmark Supreme Court case that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional.
- Overturned the 'separate but equal' doctrine from *Plessy v. Ferguson*.
- Argued that segregated schools were inherently unequal.
- Paved the way for desegregation of public schools.
- Considered a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement.
Memory trick: Brown's decision broke Plessy's 'separate' decree.