Plessy VS Ferguson
Alexis, Chloe, Juan, and Katana
Louisiana Law 1890
Equal but separate accommodations for
white and colored races
Homer Plessy
Seven-eighths white, one-eighth black
Appearance of a white man
Homer Plessy
❖ June 7, 1892 bought first-class ticket
❖ Sat in white only train car
Arrested for:
❖ Violating “Separate Car Act”
❖ Sitting in a white train car
District Court
Judge Ferguson dismissed the act,
saying it was unconstitutional
Judge Ferguson
Said no law was broken because it was
within the state boundaries.
Aftermath:
The case was taken to the U.S.
Supreme Court
Reason for Supreme Court
Arguing that the state was going
against 13’th/14’th amendment
13’th Amendment
Addresses the abolishment of slavery
14’th Amendment
States had to follow and enforce the
laws from the Constitution
Outcome
Court voted that the state wasn’t going
against the amendments
Plessy Outcome
Plessy loses in Supreme Court and racial
segregation was allowed with
“Separate but equal” law
Restrictive Legislation
Restrictions on race lasted until Brown
vs. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education
Plessy case was later overruled by
Brown vs. Education
Race Segregation
Plessy vs. Ferguson showed segregation
laws in state are acceptable at the time
Result of Plessy vs. Ferguson
Some African-Americans were now
provided with equal protection
Jim Crow
Places such as schools and restaurants were now
segregated.
Voting
Blacks were prevented from voting and they
weren’t able to run for offices or jury poles
Impact
It encouraged to make more decisions on
segregation laws and later it will lead on to the
Civil Rights Movement.
Work cited
"Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)." Our Documents -. The History Channel, n.d. Web. 15
Oct. 2015.
"Plessy v. Ferguson." Exploring Constitutional Conflicts. Supreme Court of United
States, n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.
"Plessy v. Ferguson." Landmark Cases. Supreme Court Historical Society, n.d.
Web. 15 Oct. 2015.