1954 Supreme Court Decision Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is 1954 Supreme Court Decision?

The 1954 Supreme Court Decision in the case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka marked a major milestone in the civil rights movement in America. The decision overturned the earlier ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson which established the concept of separate but equal and provided legal justification for racial segregation in public facilities, including schools. The Brown case was argued on behalf of thirteen black children who had been denied admission to all-white public schools near their homes due to school segregation laws and policies in place at the time. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously, with Chief Justice Earl Warren writing that in the field of public education, separate but equal has no place stating that segregated educational facilities were inherently unequal and violated both the Equal Protection Clause and Due Process Clause under the Fourteenth Amendment. This decision brought an end to legalized racial segregation throughout all levels of education across America and helped to lay a foundation for future civil rights legislation such as Title VI, which prohibited discrimination based on race or color within any program receiving federal funds or resources. The Brown decision was highly controversial both during its announcement as well as its implementation over subsequent years due to resistance from many states and communities towards desegregating schools. This resistance would later lead Congress to pass legislation such as the Civil Rights Act (1964) which prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin throughout all areas of American life including employment opportunities and housing decisions. While much work still needs to be done towards achieving true equality for people regardless of race or ethnicity, it is undeniable that without this landmark ruling by Chief Justice Earl Warren we would not be where we are today when it comes to civil rights protections throughout society.