Plessy vs. Ferguson Court Case
What was the Supreme Court's decision?
A 7-1 decision in favor of Ferguson. The court ignored Plessy's 13th and 14th amendment arguments and kept insisting that the act was just "separate but equal."
Separate Car Act
A law passed by the Louisiana State Legislature in 1890 which required "equal, but separate" train car accommodations for Blacks and Whites.
Why did Plessy believe that the Separate Car Act violated the 13th and 14th Amendment rights?
Because the government is required to treat people equally by the 14th amendment, and they were not doing that, separating because of color and nothing else.
What Supreme Court Case overturned this precedent?
Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. It was against the idea of black people and white people being taught in different schools.
Judge John Howard Ferguson was named in the case because...
He had been named in the petition to the Louisiana State Supreme Court, not because he was involved in the initial lawsuit.
Judge Ferguson decided that the state could make laws for railroad companies that traveled within the state but not for those that traveled between states. On what basis can Judge Ferguson treat these two situations differently?
He is the Judge of the court in Louisiana, meaning he is able to make laws in the state. Because they're staying in the state, the state is able to determine that this law is constitutional, while they can't determine what it is for other states.
What law did Homer Plessy violate? How did Plessy violate this law?
He violated the "Separate Car Act," where he purchased a first class ticket from New Orleans to Covington (within Louisiana). Even though he was ⅛ black, he still was arrested for violating this law.
Who was Homer Plessy?
He was a shoemaker, a citizen of the U.S., a resident of the state of Louisiana, who was 7/8 white and 1/8 black.
Judge John Howard Ferguson
Heard Plessy's case. Said is a previous court decision that the Separate Car Act was unconstitutional if applied to trains running outside of Louisiana. However, he declared that the law was constitutional for trains running within the state and found Plessy guilty.
"Equal but separate"
Infamously racist decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) that allowed the use of segregation laws by states and local governments.
What does the separate but equal precedent set by this case mean?
It allowed the states to separate blacks and whites in equal public facilities, just based on color. Because the population was very mixed, this was the state's way of drawing that line of separation between the two races.
Are separation and equality compatible?
No, because the separation of people has the main intention of treating people differently. If the people were all being treated equally, there would be no reason to separate them in the first place.
How did the Railroad Company feel about the Separate Car Act?
The railroad company wanted to strike down the act mostly because it cost them money to maintain separate cars.
What was the issue in this case?
Violated the 13th and 14th amendments, which grants freedom and equality to all. Separating people solely based on skin color violates these amendments, not treating everyone equally.
13th Amendment
abolished slavery
14th Amendment
declares that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens and are guaranteed equal protection of the laws
