The U.S. Constitution: A Flexible Framework

The Protections of the 14 th Amendment In 1868, the 14 th Amendment was added to the U.S. Constitution. The 14 th Amendment includes “Equal Protection”. It was originally intended to prevent states from denying rights to African Americans

Changing Attitudes: Equality and Segregation 1896 U.S. Supreme Court Case Plessy v. Ferguson ______________ When this case went before the U.S. Supreme Court, the justices faced the question of whether segregation violated the principle of “equal protection” as stated in the 14 th Amendment.

Changing Attitudes: Equality and Segregation In 1896, the U.S. Supreme Court INTERPRETED the 14 th Amendment to mean that segregation was constitutional so long as the train cars for Caucasians and African Americans were of equal quality. These are the 9 justices who were on the U.S. Supreme Court in 1896.

Changing Attitudes: Equality and Segregation The truth of the matter was that segregated facilities (train cars, schools, etc.) for Caucasians and African Americans were NOT equal in quality. But, the existence of segregated facilities was deemed constitutional in 1896 by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Changing Attitudes: Equality and Segregation As a result of the 1896 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, segregation continued through the early 1900’s. Some Americans viewed the segregated facilities as truly unequal.

Changing Attitudes: Equality and Segregation By the early 1950’s, many Americans were questioning the fairness, or equality, of segregation. One such American was Thurgood Marshall, a lawyer for the NAACP.

Changing Attitudes: Equality and Segregation The next court case to force the U.S. Supreme Court to consider segregation and the U.S. Constitution would be Brown vs. Board of Education (1954).

Changing Attitudes: Equality and Segregation In the case of Brown vs. Board of Education (1954), Linda Brown wanted the right to go to the closest elementary school. That elementary school happened to be a “Caucasian” elementary school. As a result of legalized segregation, Linda Brown was denied the right to go to the closest elementary school. Linda Brown (grade 3) with family

Changing Attitudes: Equality and Segregation In Brown vs. Board of Education (1954), the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the previous interpretation of 1896 (Plessy v. Ferguson) that permitted segregation in America. Linda Brown

Changing Attitudes: Equality and Segregation In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed that segregating African Americans created a “feeling of inferiority”. In their decision, the U.S. Supreme Court interpreted the 14 th Amendment (including the principle of equal protection) to mean that segregation was indeed unconstitutional. U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C.

Changing Attitudes: Equality and Segregation In summary, the 1954 decision in Brown vs. Board of Education overturned the 1896 decision in Plessy v. Ferguson. The changing attitudes in America, combined with the new interpretation of the 14 th Amendment, led to segregation being deemed unconstitutional. This is a notable example of how Supreme Court rulings can keep the Constitution flexible. The Constitution is flexible just like an elastic band.

Changing Attitudes: Equality and Segregation After the 1954 court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, Linda Brown was the first African American to be integrated into a “Caucasian” elementary school. While this case made school segregation illegal, it took some states many years to put students together in schools.