Plessy vs. Ferguson
The Supreme Court argued that separate
1892 facilities were okay as long as they were equ
Plessy, a man who was 1/8 black (but considered (established ‘separate, but equal’ doctrine)
legally black), boarded a white railroad car on the however, black Americans weren’t provided
East Louisiana Railroad. The conductor asked him resources to create equal spaces for themse
about his race, and he refused to move. Plessy was and the facilities they were provided with w
1890 removed from the train and arrested. Plessy was often of lower quality.
Separate Car Act passed in charged for the crime of sitting in a whites-only car, The case was decided in favour of Ferguson.
Louisiana that segregated a decision upheld by the state court. The case was heavily publicised and provoke
railroad cars by race. mixed reaction.
Local activist group ‘Committee of Citizens’ 1896 Impact:
organised a protest against this law, hoping to use 4 years later, the legal question made its - ‘Separate, but equal
it as a test case in the court system, along with the way to the Supreme Court. The Committee declared it constitutio
railroad company who opposed paying for of Citizens pushed for the appeal. Plessy’s segregate races.
separate facilities for black and white citizens. This lawyers argued that the Louisiana - Strengthened/suppo
was a well-orchestrated plan. The railroad segregation laws violated his 13th and 14th segregation in public f
company was made aware of Plessy’s race prior to Amendment rights. They also argued that ensured its continuati
him showing up to the station. The Committee of the Separate Car Act reinforced the false than half a century.
Citizens even hired a private detective who had idea that white Americans were superior to - Established the cons
the power to arrest Plessy for violating that black Americans. laws mandating separ
specific law. accommodations for t
The Supreme Court argued that separate
1892 facilities were okay as long as they were equ
Plessy, a man who was 1/8 black (but considered (established ‘separate, but equal’ doctrine)
legally black), boarded a white railroad car on the however, black Americans weren’t provided
East Louisiana Railroad. The conductor asked him resources to create equal spaces for themse
about his race, and he refused to move. Plessy was and the facilities they were provided with w
1890 removed from the train and arrested. Plessy was often of lower quality.
Separate Car Act passed in charged for the crime of sitting in a whites-only car, The case was decided in favour of Ferguson.
Louisiana that segregated a decision upheld by the state court. The case was heavily publicised and provoke
railroad cars by race. mixed reaction.
Local activist group ‘Committee of Citizens’ 1896 Impact:
organised a protest against this law, hoping to use 4 years later, the legal question made its - ‘Separate, but equal
it as a test case in the court system, along with the way to the Supreme Court. The Committee declared it constitutio
railroad company who opposed paying for of Citizens pushed for the appeal. Plessy’s segregate races.
separate facilities for black and white citizens. This lawyers argued that the Louisiana - Strengthened/suppo
was a well-orchestrated plan. The railroad segregation laws violated his 13th and 14th segregation in public f
company was made aware of Plessy’s race prior to Amendment rights. They also argued that ensured its continuati
him showing up to the station. The Committee of the Separate Car Act reinforced the false than half a century.
Citizens even hired a private detective who had idea that white Americans were superior to - Established the cons
the power to arrest Plessy for violating that black Americans. laws mandating separ
specific law. accommodations for t
