1. Plessy v. Ferguson 1896

2. Background
Plessy, of mixed ancestry, sat in a white only section of a train in New Orleans, when asked to leave he refused!
He was arrested and found guilty
He appealed the decision and it went to the Supreme Court because Plessy argued that it violated the 13th and 14th amendments, so it was unconstitutional.
This scenario was a set up! Plessy was picked on purpose to test the segregation laws. Plessy looked WHITE!!! The train conductors were tipped off that Plessy was actually black!

3. Question before the court
Does enforced segregation or separation of the races violate the 13th and 14th amendments? If so is this unconstitutional?

4. Decision 7 to 1 vote affirmed (upheld the lower courts decision)
Law of segregation does not violate the 14th amendment because it did not restrict blacks and whites differently. Whites could not sit in black sections of the train.
States had the right to follow established customs in restricting mixing of the races.

5. Impact
This established that separate but equal is ok and the law of the land!!!
Legalized JIM CROW LAWS
HUGE set back for civil rights for African Americans
Eventually will be overturned by Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 – 58 years later