Question

what issue did plessy v. ferguson address?

the legality of racial segregation

the legality of poll taxes in federal elections

the legality of searches and seizures without a warrant

Explanation:

Identify the historical context of the case

The Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) originated from an incident in 1892 when Homer Plessy, a man of mixed racial heritage, boarded a "whites-only" railroad car in Louisiana, violating the state's Separate Car Act.

Analyze the constitutional question

The central legal question was whether state-mandated segregation on public transportation violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Evaluate the Supreme Court ruling

The Court ruled 7–1 against Plessy, establishing the "separate but equal" doctrine. This decision upheld state laws requiring racial segregation in public facilities as long as the facilities were equal in quality.

Match with the given options

• the legality of racial segregation: This directly matches the "separate but equal" ruling of the case.
• the legality of poll taxes in federal elections: This was addressed by the Twenty-Fourth Amendment.
• the legality of searches and seizures without a warrant: This is a Fourth Amendment issue.

Answer:

• the legality of racial segregation (Correct answer)
• the legality of poll taxes in federal elections
• the legality of searches and seizures without a warrant