Which case is associated with the doctrine of 'separate but equal' in U.S. history?

Which case is associated with the doctrine of 'separate but equal' in U.S. history?

• A. Dred Scott v. Sandford
• B. Marbury v Madison
• C. Plessy v Ferguson
• D. Brown v Board of Education

Answer: (C)

The question tests knowledge of the legal ruling that gave rise to the “separate but equal” idea. That doctrine came from Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896, where the Supreme Court held that states could segregate public facilities as long as the separate facilities were “equal.” This decision provided a constitutional cover for Jim Crow laws and the widespread segregation of schools, trains, and other public spaces for many decades, even though in practice the facilities were far from equal. A related landmark case, Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, later overturned this doctrine by ruling that racial segregation in public schools is inherently unequal and thus unconstitutional. The other two cases don’t fit this specific concept: one addressed citizenship and slavery-related issues before the Civil War, and the other established judicial review.

The question tests knowledge of the legal ruling that gave rise to the “separate but equal” idea. That doctrine came from Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896, where the Supreme Court held that states could segregate public facilities as long as the separate facilities were “equal.” This decision provided a constitutional cover for Jim Crow laws and the widespread segregation of schools, trains, and other public spaces for many decades, even though in practice the facilities were far from equal.

A related landmark case, Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, later overturned this doctrine by ruling that racial segregation in public schools is inherently unequal and thus unconstitutional.

The other two cases don’t fit this specific concept: one addressed citizenship and slavery-related issues before the Civil War, and the other established judicial review.