The Supreme Court’s decision in Plessy v. Ferguson helped overturn the protections of the Fourteenth Amendment for African Americans by
A.
declaring that state laws requiring racial segregation were constitutional.
B.
allowing states to prevent African American men from voting.
C.
denying education to African Americans.
D.
stating that lynching was legal.
say the correct answer and explain why
Answer A. Declaring that state laws requiring racial segregation were constitutional. This decision established the "separate but equal" doctrine, which allowed for racial segregation in public facilities, such as schools, transportation, and other public places. This decision overturned the protections of the Fourteenth Amendment, which had granted African Americans equal protection under the law.
The correct answer is A. The Supreme Court's decision in Plessy v. Ferguson helped overturn the protections of the Fourteenth Amendment for African Americans by declaring that state laws requiring racial segregation were constitutional.
To explain why, we need to understand the background of the case. In Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), Homer Plessy, who was an African American, deliberately challenged the Louisiana state law that mandated racial segregation on trains. Plessy argued that this law violated his rights as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment, which states that no state shall deny any person equal protection under the law.
However, the Supreme Court, in a 7-1 decision, ruled against Plessy and upheld the constitutionality of the segregation laws with the doctrine of "separate but equal." The Court essentially said that as long as the segregated facilities were equal in quality, they did not violate the Fourteenth Amendment.
This decision had a devastating impact on African Americans as it justified and legitimized racial segregation and discrimination. It set a precedent that allowed states to implement laws that enforced racial segregation in public places, including schools, transportation, and other facilities.
By declaring state laws requiring racial segregation as constitutional, the Supreme Court effectively undermined the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and weakened the legal protections for African Americans. It perpetuated and institutionalized racial discrimination and segregation in the United States, contributing to the era of "Jim Crow" laws and the systemic marginalization of African Americans for decades to come.
The correct answer is A. The Supreme Court's decision in Plessy v. Ferguson helped overturn the protections of the Fourteenth Amendment for African Americans by declaring that state laws requiring racial segregation were constitutional.
In the Plessy v. Ferguson case in 1896, the Supreme Court upheld a Louisiana law that required segregation on public transportation. The Court's decision established the "separate but equal" doctrine, stating that racially segregated facilities were constitutional as long as they were equal in quality. However, in reality, the separate facilities for African Americans were often inferior and unequal to those provided for white Americans.
By endorsing racial segregation, the Supreme Court's decision in Plessy v. Ferguson undermined the equality and protection guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. This decision allowed for the systemic and institutionalized discrimination against African Americans, further entrenching and perpetuating racial inequality and segregation for decades to come. It was not until the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 that the separate but equal doctrine was overturned.