Florida Civic Literacy Practice Exam

Which landmark decision established the principle of "separate but equal"?

1. Dred Scott v. Sandford

2. Plessy v. Ferguson

3. Brown v. Board of Education

4. Roe v. Wade

The correct answer is: Plessy v. Ferguson

The principle of "separate but equal" was established by the landmark decision in Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896. This case arose from a challenge to Louisiana's racial segregation laws, specifically related to the transportation system. The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine, which essentially stated that as long as the separate facilities for the races were equal, segregation did not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Plessy v. Ferguson had profound implications for American society, as it legitimized racial segregation for nearly six decades until it was eventually overturned by Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. The ruling in Plessy set a precedent that allowed Jim Crow laws to proliferate, leading to widespread discrimination and the institutionalization of racial inequality in various aspects of life in the United States, including education, public transportation, and public accommodations. This underscores the critical historical significance of the decision and its impact on civil rights in America.