Which landmark Supreme Court case ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional?

Prepare for the MoCA Social Studies Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions with detailed hints and explanations. Ready yourself for success!

The landmark Supreme Court case that ruled racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional is indeed Brown v. Board of Education. This decision, delivered in 1954, overruled the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson, which upheld the "separate but equal" doctrine that allowed for racial segregation as long as the separate facilities were deemed equal.

In Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court concluded that segregation in public education violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Court recognized that segregated schools are inherently unequal and therefore unconstitutional. This ruling was a pivotal moment in the American civil rights movement, as it set the legal foundation for challenging segregation and discrimination throughout society.

The significance of this case extends beyond education and illustrates the broader rejection of state-sanctioned racial segregation, leading to increased momentum for civil rights initiatives in subsequent decades. The other cases listed, while important in their own rights—such as Loving v. Virginia, which struck down laws against interracial marriage, and Roe v. Wade, which addressed abortion rights—do not directly pertain to the issue of segregation in public schools, making Brown v. Board of Education the clear answer to the question.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy