Plessy vs Ferguson
Who was involved? Think about the people or groups who were involved and affected by this event. Albion Winegar Tourgée, an attorney and activist who argued Plessy’s case.
Justice John Marshall Harlan of the U.S. Supreme Court, who was the sole dissenter from the court’s decision.
John Howard Ferguson, the judge who had convicted Plessy.
Homer Plessy, the plaintiff in error, who was a citizen of the United States and a resident of the State of Louisiana, of mixed descent, in the proportion of seven eighths Caucasian and one eighth African blood
What happened? Summarize the event! Plessy v. Ferguson was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1896 that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the “separate but equal” doctrine
Where did the event take place?
When did the event take place?
Why is this event important to Georgia’s history?
The event took place in Louisiana, but it had nationwide implications.
The event took place in 1896.
This event is important to Georgia's history because it reinforced the legality of racial segregation and the principle of "separate but equal" across the country. It had a significant impact on the Jim Crow era in Georgia and other southern states, leading to the widespread institutionalization of racial discrimination and segregation. This decision allowed for the establishment of separate facilities, such as schools, buses, and public spaces, for white and black individuals, perpetuating inequality and denying African Americans their civil rights. It was not until the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case in 1954 that the doctrine of "separate but equal" was overturned, starting the process of dismantling segregation.