"We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. Therefore, we hold that the plaintiffs and others similarly situated... are, by reason of the segregation complained of, deprived of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment."
—Chief Justice Earl Warren, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 1954
The Supreme Court decision excerpted above had which of the following direct effects?
- It declared the "separate but equal" doctrine in public education unconstitutional.Answer
- BIt outlawed racial segregation in all private businesses and public accommodations nationwide.
- CIt guaranteed voting rights for African Americans by banning literacy tests.
- DIt ordered the immediate integration of the United States Armed Forces.
Answer
The ruling declared the "separate but equal" doctrine in public education unconstitutional.
The correct answer is the option stating that the decision declared the "separate but equal" doctrine in public education unconstitutional. In Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the Supreme Court ruled that racially segregated public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, overturning the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson (1896).
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The legal impact of the Brown v. Board of Education decision on segregation in public education