GED Social Studies TestU.S. HistoryMedium
A political analyst is discussing the impact of landmark Supreme Court decisions on American society. Which of the following rulings established the principle of 'separate but equal,' legally sanctioning racial segregation for nearly 60 years?
- ADred Scott v. Sandford
- BMarbury v. Madison
- CBrown v. Board of Education
- DPlessy v. Ferguson
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) was the Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine, which became the legal basis for Jim Crow laws.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) ruled that African Americans, enslaved or free, could not be American citizens and had no standing to sue in federal court.
- B. Marbury v. Madison (1803) established judicial review, a foundational principle of U.S. constitutional law.
- C. Brown v. Board of Education (1954) overturned 'separate but equal', declaring segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
A landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation laws for public facilities as long as the segregated facilities were equal in quality, a doctrine that came to be known as 'separate but equal'.
- Legalized Jim Crow laws and racial segregation.
- Applied to schools, public transport, and other public facilities.
- Overturned by Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.
Memory trick: Court cases shaped rights, some dividing, some uniting.