Plessy Vs Ferguson Essay

552 Words2 Pages

Plessy v Ferguson and its impact on Jim Crow Laws The Citizens’ Committee recruited Homer Plessy to purposefully violate one of Louisiana’s segregation laws. Homer Plessy was arrested in New Orleans due to a violation of the “separate-car law”. He tried to appeal through the state courts to the Supreme Court but he lost. The “separate but equal” decision against him made consequences for civil rights throughout the United States (Homer Plessy). This allowed segregation anywhere in the United States as long as the facility provided for both races was “equal”. The Committee used this tactic in order to get rid of segregation laws in Louisiana. Plessy’s case was heard before Judge John Howard Ferguson a month after his arrest. His lawyer argued that his civil rights were violated; however, Ferguson denied the argument saying the railroad business could set what rules they wanted to. The Supreme Court of Louisiana affirmed Ferguson’s ruling and refused to grant a rehearing for the case, but allowed a petition for writ of error. The United States Supreme Court …show more content…

This was known as the “separate but equal” doctrine which does not violate the Fourteenth Amendment, according to the racial segregation (Separate but Equal.). The decision of 1896 strengthened segregation states during the Jim Crow era; this era began in 1876 and restricted the civil rights and liberties of blacks. These laws mandated the segregation of public schools, places, transportation, and of restrooms, restaurants, and even drinking fountains (Jim Crow Laws). Soon, the segregation of public schools was declared unconstitutional in the 1954 court case, Brown v. Board of Education. The remaining Jim Crow laws were overruled by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The “separate but equal” was also overturned by the Brown v. Board of Education case along with many

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