Premium Essay

What Is Plessy V. Ferguson Play In The Civil Rights Movement?

Submitted By
Words 592
Pages 3
Plessy v. Ferguson was one of the most significant cases of the Civil Rights Movement because of its negative results. Homer Plessy, in support of the Citizens' Committee to Test the Separate Car Act, challenged the state law by sitting in a whites-only train car though he was one-eighth black. The committee planned to challenge segregation in court in hopes that the Supreme Court would deem the law unconstitutional. Plessy’s lawyers said that his rights were

violated due to the Fourteenth Amendment, which gave equal rights to male citizens of all races. However, the Supreme Court had previously ruled that the Fourteenth Amendment only applied to federal law, not state law. The Supreme Court eventually decided against Plessy ruling that the 14th Amendment didn't apply to state law and that segregation did not take away black people's rights because the facilities were separate but equal. …show more content…
White and black people were separated in places that had been integrated before, like public transportation, restaurants, and even bathrooms. Some laws restricted black people and white people from even being near each other; a white baseball team could not play within two blocks of a black team's field and it was thought of as horrendous to consider a white person marrying outside of their own race. Segregation laws not only widened the physical gaps between black people and white people, but also took away the opportunity for many relationships to be formed and distanced the idea each race had of the other. This made it easy for white people with societal advantages to demonize black people, which was very

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Segregation

...How have African-Americans worked to end segregation, discrimination, and isolation to attain equality and civil rights? For centuries, African Americans have played and continue to play a significant role in American history. While today, African American no longer face the laws of segregation and discrimination, they continue to fight for equality and civil rights. This continued fight is one of a long past with several triumphs and tragedies all which are an integral part of history. This essay will discuss how African Americans worked to end slavery, segregation, discrimination, freedom, and isolation. It will also discuss what led to the civil right implementation and how it was executed. Equal rights for African Americans have been contentious, and fought for decades. They have fought to impede ethic discrimination, gain equal opportunity and their civil rights since slavery in the 1600s. When slavery started in 1620s, African Americans only made up about 3 to 4 percent of the population in America. Although the number grew slowly at first, by the end of the 17th century, the population of African American slave grew to well over 650,000. (Becker, 2000) In America, slave labor became the key component in agriculture and booming capitalist economy of the 17th & 18th centuries. (County, 1999) In the beginning, Africans were exchanged for food and place as “indentured servants” by the Dutch. This practice was also true for many poor Englishmen who were...

Words: 1656 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

American Core Values Analysis

...independence states a popular phrase; people are entitled to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. Chapter two in the textbook turns its attention to a limited government, which implies strict legal limits on the use of power so that it doesn’t threaten an individual’s liberty. For example “the rights of the Englishmen” which are...

Words: 666 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

28.1 History Notes

...Key Terms: Brown v. Board of Education Topeka, Kansas: 1954 Supreme Court case in which racial segregation in public schools was outlawed. Montgomery bus boycott: Protest in 1955-1956 by African American against racial segregation in the bus system on Montgomery, Alabama. Integration: Process of bringing people of different races together. Setting the Scene: * In August 1945, Branch Rickey, the general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, called a young man named Jackie Robinson into his office. * In 1947, Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African American to play in the Major Leagues * He was named Rookie of the Year in 1947. * In 1949, he was voted the league's most valuable player. The Rise of African American Influence: * Before and during World War II, African Americans were not treated as equals by a large portion of American society. * After the war, the campaign for civil rights began to accelerate * African American Migration: * After the Civil War, many African Americans migrated to large northern cities * Between 1910 and 1940, the black population of New York City leaped from 60,000 to 450,000. * The New Deal: * Under Roosevelt, the number of African Americans working for the federal government increased significantly. * World War II: * During the war, increased demands for labor in northern cities led to a rise in the black population in the North. * This increase in numbers gave...

Words: 844 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

How Far Were the Actions of the African Americans the Main Reason for the Advancement of the Civil Rights in the Period 1865-1980?

...How far were the actions of the African Americans the main reason for the advancement of the Civil Rights in the period 1865-1980? “Power concedes nothing without demand, it never has and it never will”[1]. Said by Fredrick Douglass in 1857, an escaped slave who had bearded the brunt of the slave years. He had come to the realisation that African Americans had a fountain of “power”; however that power that they possessed would never establish anything without a “demand”. Fredrick Douglass awoke the conscious of African Americans to make them realise that wanting to be free and wanting to achieve full civil rights was not enough, neither was enduring a life under white supremacy waiting for life after death to see a new dawn .Believing and hoping was not enough. “Power concedes nothing without demand” the solution is to be willing to work hard to establish it yourself by demanding what belongs to them. However using power in order to concede civil rights was a struggle which was acknowledged by Fredrick Douglass “Without struggle there is no success”. To achieve advancement in African American Civil Rights, African Americans had to undergo a process of struggle. A rainbow is not made without rain; you can not want rain without thunder and lightening being accompanied by it. To achieve full civil rights African Americans had to pay the price along the way which was persecution, de-humanisation and scrutiny. Martin Luther King being inspired by Fredrick Douglass said “Freedom...

Words: 4801 - Pages: 20

Premium Essay

Patterson Ch. 3

...Chapter Three Federalism: Forging a Nation Chapter Outline I. Federalism: National and State Sovereignty A. The Argument for Federalism 1. Protecting Liberty 2. Moderating the Power of Government 3. Strengthening the Union B. The Powers of the Nation 1. Enumerated Powers 2. Implied Powers C. The Powers of the States II. Federalism in Historical Perspective A. An Indestructible Union (1789–1865) 1. The Nationalist View: McCulloch v. Maryland 2. The States’ Rights View: The Dred Scott Decision B. Dual Federalism and Laissez-Faire Capitalism (1865–1937) 1. The Fourteenth Amendment and State Discretion 2. Judicial Protection of Business 3. National Authority Prevails C. Toward National Citizenship III. Federalism Today A. Interdependency and Intergovernmental Relations B. Government Revenues and Intergovernmental Relations 1. Fiscal Federalism 2. Categorical and Block Grants C. Devolution 1. The Republican Revolution 2. Devolution, Judicial Style IV. The Public’s...

Words: 3398 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

Hotel Rwanda

...Society: Through the View of Many People African-Americans, Whites, Asians, Indians, Chinese, Japanese, and etc…They are all classified as ethnicities, that are judged every day in some shape or form. From day one to now I’ve learned more through the class of “Black World Studies” taught by Professor Coates. Coates gave me the intelligent insight on how Africans-Americans were able to succeed through the tough times of learning even when they could die from learning how to read. It was a sacrifice the slaves had to do that the time. When I read more articles and watched more movies, it showed determination, courage, heart, and attitude. When reading, it switched to a period of slavery to a period of the Civil War. After that I came to an author named Jared Diamond that gave his view on the world of slavery. In the article “How Africa Became Black” by Jared Diamond he argues that diversity resulted from the geography of Africa. Africa is home to five major human groups, blacks, whites, African Pygmies, Khoisan, and Asians. Thirty percent of the world’s language is in Africa. But as the years goes on were losing about 2 per week. Soon as the world gets older there wouldn’t be any languages in Africa. As race continues to grow in Africa there will be different types of languages being made and the previous groups (ethnic groups of language) wouldn’t exist anymore. As said in paragraph 8 of “How Africa Became Black” races are stereotyping, from Black to White, to putting the Zulu...

Words: 6277 - Pages: 26

Free Essay

Unit 3c

...Process is far too long and expensive (Obama in 2008 announced his running 332 before the first primary * Fails to test presidential qualities Increased importance of primaries: * Really the only route to become a parties President Caucuses: * A meeting for the selection of a candidate * Usually held in states that are geographically large but thinly populated (Iowa, North Dakota, Nevada) * Turnout is usually pretty low, and usual favour ideological candidates National party conventions: Formal functions: * Choose presidential candidate. (Need majority of delegates) * This function has been lost to primaries * Now just merely confirm the candidate * Choose VP, usually a balanced ticket so VP brings what President can’t (McCain + Palin 2008, Old & young, male & female) Informal functions: * Enthuse the party (they organise the campaign and enthuse voters * Promote...

Words: 6400 - Pages: 26

Premium Essay

Racial Polarization

...Is Racial Antipathy Increasing? The Polarizing Effect of Obama’s Presidency Abstract Previous research has shown that individuals who are highly conservative are more likely to hold negative perceptions of African-Americans and other minorities. Furthermore, racial antipathy affects the way individuals perceive Barack Obama. In light of recent trends, this study tested whether individuals who identify themselves as Republicans are substantially more likely to maintain negative racial attitudes. The study also investigated whether white Americans are more likely than other racial groups to harbor racial prejudices and disapprove of Barack Obama. Results from this study indicated that racial resentment plays a significant role in contemporary politics. Data from between-subjects ANOVA and correlational analysis suggested that the Democratic Party and Republican Party are polarized in regards to racial issues. Moreover, conservative whites are the most likely racial group to hold racial prejudices against African-Americans. Finally, disapproval of President Obama is highly associated with high levels of negative racial stereotypes. Keywords: race, antipathy, conservatism, prejudices, Obama Is Racial Antipathy Increasing? The Polarizing Effect of Obama’s Presidency In 2008, Barack Obama became the first African-American to become President of the United States. His election marked a pivotal turning point in American politics. To millions, Obama’s election signaled...

Words: 6638 - Pages: 27

Premium Essay

Constitutions

...Constitution From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia For other uses, see Constitution (disambiguation). A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed.[1] These rules together make up, i.e.constitute, what the entity is. When these principles are written down into a single document or set of legal documents, those documents may be said to embody a writtenconstitution; if they are written down in a single comprehensive document, it is said to embody a codified constitution. Constitutions concern different levels of organizations, from sovereign states to companies and unincorporated associations. A treaty which establishes an international organization is also its constitution, in that it would define how that organization is constituted. Within states, a constitution defines the principles upon which the state is based, the procedure in which laws are made and by whom. Some constitutions, especially codified constitutions, also act as limiters of state power, by establishing lines which a state's rulers cannot cross, such as fundamental rights. An example is the constitution of the United States of America. George Washington at Constitutional Conventionof 1787 signing of the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution of India is the longest written constitution of any sovereign country in the world,[2] containing 444 articles in 22 parts,[3][4] 12 schedules and 118 amendments, with 117...

Words: 16003 - Pages: 65

Free Essay

Foundation Outline (Prof. William Ewald)

...  Introduction and Historical Background    A. What the course will cover?      This  is  not  an  introductory  course.    You  are  all  lawyers;  I  shall  assume  a  good  deal  of  professional  expertise,  and  that  many  of  you  already  have  a  body  of  knowledge  about  American  law.    The task: prepare you for the coming year, give you the basic grounding that you will need  for the courses you are going to start taking in September.  For this, you need two things:    ♥ A  great  deal  of  basic  factual  information  about  how  the  courts  and  the  legal  system  function, and about basic legal concepts (and legal vocabulary);     ♥ But  more  importantly:  background  information  about  some  of  the  critical  ways in which  the American legal system is unique, and differs from legal systems elsewhere in the  world.  This is hard: often you will find that your professors or fellow‐students will make  assumptions  or  presuppose  certain  ways  of  doing  things  that  aren’t  explained  in  class.    A  large goal of this course is to explain those assumptions, and make them explicit.       >> UNIQUENESS OF AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEMS    Briefly, there are four aspects of the American legal system that set it apart:    1) Inherited  common  law,  existing  out  of  three  components:  (a)  judicial  power;  (b)  civil  jury  trial; (c) law‐equity ;  2) Written  Constitution  and  Bill  of  Rights;  judicial...

Words: 43059 - Pages: 173

Premium Essay

Essays

...TExES I Texas Examinations of Educator Standards Preparation Manual 133 History 8–12 Copyright © 2006 by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). All rights reserved. The Texas Education Agency logo and TEA are registered trademarks of the Texas Education Agency. Texas Examinations of Educator Standards, TExES, and the TExES logo are trademarks of the Texas Education Agency. This publication has been produced for the Texas Education Agency (TEA) by ETS. ETS is under contract to the Texas Education Agency to administer the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) program and the Certification of Educators in Texas (ExCET) program. The TExES program and the Examination for the Certification of Educators in Texas (ExCET) program are administered under the authority of the Texas Education Agency; regulations and standards governing the program are subject to change at the discretion of the Texas Education Agency. The Texas Education Agency and ETS do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability in the administration of the testing program or the provision of related services. PREFACE The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) has developed new standards for Texas educators that delineate what the beginning educator should know and be able to do. These standards, which are based on the state-required curriculum for students——the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)——form the basis for new Texas Examinations...

Words: 14132 - Pages: 57

Premium Essay

Pols Final Exam Review

...Federal Government Exam 1 Review: The first exam will consist of questions generated from the following review sheet. Make sure you understand each of these topics before proceeding to the test. The exam will be timed so you will not have the ability to peruse your notes or retake the exam. The exam itself will consist of 30 multiple choice questions and you will have 35 minutes to complete the exam. Federalism: The Basic elements of a Federal system of government (i.e. how is it structured/how power is shared) • Layers of gov • Equal power • Distinct powers Powers of the federal government: delegated powers, implied powers (necessary and proper clause), and concurrent powers. • Delegated Powers: (expressed/enumerated powers) powers given to the federal government directly by the constitution. Some most important delegated powers are: the authority to tax, regulated interstate commerce, authority to declare war, and grants the president role of commander and chief of the military • Implied Powers: Powers not expressed in the constitution, but that can be inferred. “Necessary and proper clause” • Concurrent powers: powers shared by both levels of government. Ex: Taxes, roads, elections, commerce, establishing courts and a judicial system • Reserved powers: powers not assigned by the constitution to the national government but left to the states or the people. Guaranteed by the 10th amendment. Include “police power”-health and public...

Words: 37488 - Pages: 150

Free Essay

Up from Slavery

...A TEACHER’S GUIDE TO THE SIGNET CLASSIC EDITION OF BOOKER T. WASHINGTON’S UP FROM SLAVERY By VIRGINIA L. SHEPHARD, Ph.D., Florida State University S E R I E S E D I T O R S : W. GEIGER ELLIS, ED.D., ARTHEA J. S. REED, PH.D., UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, EMERITUS and UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, RETIRED A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of Booker T. Washington’s Up from Slavery 2 INTRODUCTION Booker T. Washington’s commanding presence and oratory deeply moved his contemporaries. His writings continue to influence readers today. Although Washington claimed his autobiography was “a simple, straightforward story, with no attempt at embellishment,” readers for nearly a century have found it richly rewarding. Today, Up From Slavery appeals to a wide audience from early adolescence through adulthood. More important, however, is the inspiration his story of hard work and positive goals gives to all readers. His life is an example providing hope to all. The complexity and contradictions of his life make his autobiography intellectually intriguing for advanced readers. To some he was known as the Sage of Tuskegee or the Black Moses. One of his prominent biographers, Louis R. Harlan, called him the “Wizard of the Tuskegee Machine.” Others acknowledged him to be a complicated person and public figure. Students of American social and political history have come to see that Washington lived a double life. Publicly he appeased the white establishment...

Words: 13713 - Pages: 55

Premium Essay

Con Law

...Equality and the Constitution 4 Class 1: Slavery and the Constitution 4 1. The Original Constitution 4 2. State v. Post 4 3. Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) 4 4. Reconstruction 5 5. Post-Reconstruction Cases 6 Class 2: The Advent of American Constitutional Law: Brown 7 6. RACIAL EQUALITY 7 7. Brown I (1954) The segregation of children in public schools based solely on race violates the Equal Protection Clause. 7 2. Brown II 8 3. What was the constitutional harm in Brown? 8 4. THEORY 8 5. Subsequent School Desegregation 9 Class 3: Local Efforts to Desegregate: Parents Involved 11 6. Parents Involved 11 Class 4: Rational Basis Review: Cleburne, Romer, etc. 13 2. Tiers of Scrutiny 13 3. Beazer (1979) 13 4. Moreno (1973) 14 5. Cleburne (1985) 14 6. Romer (1996) 15 7. Nordlinger (1992) and Allegheny Pittsburgh (1989) 16 8. Lee Optical (1955) 17 Class 5: Racial Classifications and Heightened Scrutiny: Strauder, Korematsu, Loving 17 9. Heightened Scrutiny Analysis 17 10. Strauder (1880) 17 11. Korematsu (1944) 18 12. Loving (1967) 19 13. Theories Supporting Strict Scrutiny of Racial Classifications 20 14. Tiers of Scrutiny 20 15. Tiers of Scrutiny Table 21 Class 6: Facially Neutral Classifications: Washington v. Davis 21 16. Types of Discrimination (from Fall) 21 X. Disparate Impact 21 XI. Purposive Discrimination 22 ...

Words: 52904 - Pages: 212

Premium Essay

It Takes a Nation of Millions

...Administration’s War on Drugs and the increase of mass incarceration of the Black community. In the last thirty years, the federal government of the United States of America has engaged in campaign known as the “War on Drugs,” which has involved a variety of policies to stop the production, distribution and sale of illegal narcotics. Hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent in a war that has targeted the most vulnerable in our society, impacting its youth for generations to come. This alternative plan paper addresses the impact of the War on Drugs and the criminal justice policies that have impacted the life chances of Black youth nationwide and calls for a new social movement, introducing a 21st century Black Youth Manifesto to ask the youth of the Black community to pick up where previous social movements left off and take back their communities, their families, and reclaim their hope for the future. 3 Table of Contents Abstract . . . . Chapter One: Introduction  My Generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5  Strain and...

Words: 19872 - Pages: 80