Question

plessy v. ferguson (1896) name: natalic tyndall
a. long time coming... it took 58 more years for the supreme court to finally reject the idea of \separate but equal.\ in 1954, the court rejected this doctrine in a case called brown v. board of education of topeka, in which parents fought against \separate but equal\ schools. (however, that case only applied to schools—not trains, buses, or other facilities.)
how did the court’s reasoning change? read the following statements and decide whether they are from the plessy decision (supporting separate but equal) or the brown decision (rejecting separate but equal). mark each statement pl for plessy or br for brown.

1. the 14th amendment could not have been intended to abolish differences based on color.
2. the impact of separating people just because of race is even bigger when the law says it’s okay.
3. laws that allow or require the races to be separate do not necessarily imply that one race is inferior.
4. just because racial segregation existed when the 14th amendment was adopted in 1868 doesn’t mean it is constitutional.
5. separate educational facilities are naturally unequal.
6. state governments have the power to decide whether to keep the races separate.
7. children and adults can be treated differently under the law, so equality under the law doesn’t mean blacks and whites must be treated exactly the same.
8. making facilities equal isn’t enough as long as blacks and whites are still are separated.
9. the 14th amendment could not have been intended to force the two races to mingle together when they don’t want to.
10. research shows that separating white and black children just because of their race makes black children feel like they are inferior.
11. if requiring blacks and whites to be separate suggests that blacks are inferior, it is only because black people choose to see it that way.
12. laws cannot change social prejudices.
13. blacks and whites can only have social equality by appreciating each other and choosing to be together.
14. separating the races in school makes them unequal under the law and violates the 14th amendment.

b. what would the brown court say about plessy? the brown court based a lot of its reasoning on the importance of education. the brown court said this:

• a good education is necessary for learning to function in society and for succeeding in life.
• therefore, if black children were separated out and felt inferior, it could affect their entire lives.

do you think the brown court would have said that people could be separated by race on a train? o yes o no
based on your answer, imagine one argument the brown court might have made for or against plessy.
write it here:

Explanation:

1. This statement supports the idea that the 14th Amendment did not aim to end racial - based differences, which is in line with the Plessy decision's support for "separate but equal". So it is PL.
2. This statement emphasizes the negative impact of racial separation when the law sanctions it, which is in line with the Brown decision's rejection of "separate but equal". So it is BR.
3. This statement supports the idea that separate - race laws do not imply inferiority, which is in line with the Plessy decision. So it is PL.
4. This statement rejects the constitutionality of racial segregation despite its existence at the time of the 14th Amendment's adoption, which is in line with the Brown decision. So it is BR.
5. This statement that separate educational facilities are naturally unequal is a key point of the Brown decision. So it is BR.
6. This statement gives state governments power to decide on racial separation, which is in line with the Plessy decision. So it is PL.
7. This statement uses the idea of different treatment for different groups (children and adults) to support different treatment for blacks and whites, which is in line with the Plessy decision. So it is PL.
8. This statement emphasizes that equality of facilities is not enough in the face of racial separation, which is in line with the Brown decision. So it is BR.
9. This statement supports the idea that the 14th Amendment did not force racial mingling, which is in line with the Plessy decision. So it is PL.
10. This statement about the negative impact of racial separation on black children's self - perception is in line with the Brown decision. So it is BR.
11. This statement downplays the implication of racial separation on black inferiority, which is in line with the Plessy decision. So it is PL.
12. This statement that laws cannot change social prejudices is in line with the Plessy decision's acceptance of separate but equal. So it is PL.
13. This statement about social equality through mutual appreciation and choice is not a key point of either decision, but its tone is more in line with the Plessy decision's view of social relations. So it is PL.
14. This statement that racial separation in school violates the 14th Amendment is in line with the Brown decision. So it is BR.

For the second - part question about the Brown court's view on racial separation on a train:
The Brown court emphasized the importance of equality and the negative impact of racial separation on individuals. Given its stance on school segregation, it would likely say No, people could not be separated by race on a train. An argument the Brown court might make against Plessy regarding train segregation is that separation on a train, like in schools, would have a demeaning and unequal impact on black passengers, violating their rights to equal treatment under the 14th Amendment.

Answer:

1. PL
2. BR
3. PL
4. BR
5. BR
6. PL
7. PL
8. BR
9. PL
10. BR
11. PL
12. PL
13. PL
14. BR

Do you think the Brown court would have said that people could be separated by race on a train? No
Argument: Separation on a train would have a demeaning and unequal impact on black passengers, violating their 14th - Amendment rights.