1896+Plessy+v.+Ferguson

Case Title: Plessy V. Ferguson

Year: 1896  Case: Homer Plessy went to jail for riding in the "whites only" section of a rail car on the Louisiana Railway. It was argued to be "unconstitutional on trains that traveled through several states" under the Separate Car Act. Judge John Howard Ferguson made an exception to that because Plessy was riding on the Louisiana Railway which never left the sate, therefore was subject to sate law. Plessy was found guilty of not leaving the white car and he appealed that decision to the state Supreme Court but to no avail because the initial decision was upheld. The case eventually made its way to the Supreme Court of the United States which unfortunately also found him guilty.

Impact on schools: This case catapulted the segregation debate which would eventually lead the Brown V. Board of Education case. The Plessy case was just a stepping stone for the issue of segregation and while it did not work out in his favor, we all know now how big of an impact it would eventually make on the educational system and the country as a whole.

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