11. Which of the following is true of the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka?


A. It ruled that desegregation was a state issue, but that segregation was a federal issue.
B. It established that all citizens should have access to public education.
C. It declared that segregated schools were inherently separate and unequal.
D. It ruled that segregation should proceed with "all deliberate speed."

absolutely C

The correct answer is C. The Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka declared that segregated schools were inherently separate and unequal.

To determine which of the options is true of the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, we need to examine the facts related to this case. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was a landmark Supreme Court case decided in 1954. It addressed the issue of racial segregation in public schools and had a significant impact on the civil rights movement in the United States.

In the case, the Supreme Court evaluated whether racial segregation in public schools violated the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause, which guarantees all citizens equal protection under the law. The Court's ruling is crucial in understanding the accurate option among the ones provided.

Option A states that desegregation was a state issue, but segregation was a federal issue. However, this option is not true. The Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka ruled that racial segregation in public schools violated the Constitution, and it was deemed unconstitutional on both state and federal levels.

Option B states that the decision established that all citizens should have access to public education. This option is accurate. The Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine established by the Plessy v. Ferguson case of 1896. It declared that racial segregation in public education was inherently unequal and violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. This decision paved the way for racial desegregation in public schools.

Option C states that the Court declared that segregated schools were inherently separate and unequal. This option is also true. The Supreme Court explicitly stated in its decision that racially segregated schools were inherently unequal, effectively rejecting the notion of "separate but equal" that had been applied in previous cases.

Option D states that the Court ruled that segregation should proceed with "all deliberate speed." This option is partially accurate. The Court used the phrase "all deliberate speed" to indicate that the process of desegregation should proceed promptly but recognized the need for the implementation to be done in a way that considered local circumstances.

Therefore, the correct option that is true of the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka is:

B. It established that all citizens should have access to public education.
C. It declared that segregated schools were inherently separate and unequal.