Plessy v. Ferguson

Plessy v. Ferguson was an 1896 Supreme Court Case that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation laws for public facilities if those facilities were of equal quality. The court case was brought by Homer Plessy, a person of 1/8 Black heritage and resident of New Orleans who purposefully violated the city’s Separate Car Act of 1890. His suit argued that separate but equal accommodations for Black and White passengers was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court issued a 7-1 decision against Plessy.

Year
1896
School Timeline
Historical Context