"Brown v. Board of Education," Unit 5 Vocabulary

constitutional

being legal, or in accordance with the constitution

tangible

clear and definite; real.

segregation

the enforced separation of different racial groups in a country, community, or establishment.

Plessy v. Ferguson

a 1896 landmark case of the US Supreme Court that upheld state racial segregation laws for public facilities, stating that segregation was "separate but equal."

Brown v. Board of Education

a 1954 landmark United States Supreme Court case in which the Court declared state laws supporting segregation of public schools unconstitutional. The decision overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896, which allowed state-sponsored segregation.

amendment

a change or addition to a legal document.

plaintiff

a person who brings a case against another in a court of law.

democratic

relating to or supporting democracy or its principles; favoring or characterized by social equality

compulsory

required by law or a rule; obligatory.

expenditure

the action of spending funds; the amount of money spent