1. Honors American History II
Plessy V. Ferguson (1896)
Matt Wilson
Pd.2
Honors American History II

2. How did races become integrated
Most people believe “Brown V. Board of Education
Actually started with “Plessy V. Ferguson”

3. Plessy V. Ferguson Can Louisiana mandate separate railroad cars
Blacks Railroad cars
White Railroad cars

4. Plessy V. Ferguson Homer Plessy Born: 17 March 1863
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana
Died: 1 March 1925

5. Plessy V. Ferguson 1/16th black legally classified as black.
Plessy did not look black
1/16th black legally classified as black.
HOMER PLESSY 7/8 WHITE!!!
1/8 Black

6. Plessy V. Ferguson Riding on a train up north
Paid for a first class ticket
East Louisiana Railway
New Orleans to Covington.
Train crossed the Mason Dixie line

7. Plessy v. Ferguson Move to the back of the train Refused and was
removed from the train.
He sued the
train company.

8. “The Case” Appellant: Homer A. Plessy
Respondent: New Orleans Criminal District Court Judge J.H. Ferguson
Appellant's Claim: violated right to equal protection under law

9. “The Case” Place: Washington, D.C. Date of Decision: May 18, 1896
Decision: "separate but equal" constitutional

10. Unfortunately, Plessy did not win.
Courts believe facilities were equal
Separate facilities based on color.

11. The Verdict and Final Quotes
“Fourteenth Amendment (previously established)
Equality of the two races
By nature couldn't abolish
distinctions on color
So there still was discrimination

12. The Outcome
Blacks where forced to live separate/equal

13. “Separate but equal . . .” Schools Churches Restaurants Movies Hotels
Libraries
Housing
...you name it

14. What was still under the control of Blacks?
Their Church’s

15. Afterwards
Blacks still fought
No Hope in sight

16. Finally Freedom Later case’s Founded black freedom
Brown V. Board of Education
Integrated Blacks and Whites in school
One step of many
Black Freedom

17. THE END