Plessy vs. Ferguson

PART A: Which statement expresses the central idea of the text?

• Plessy v. Ferguson was the first time that an African American challenged segregation and brought attention to the issue.

• The decision of Plessy v. Ferguson made racial segregation more widely practiced and accepted in the United States.

• While racial segregation continued after the decision of Plessy v. Ferguson, it was not upheld by the law.

• The decision of Plessy v. Ferguson proved that both white and black citizens were largely against racial segregation.

PART B: Which detail from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

• “By 1896 the Civil War was over, and the amendments prohibiting slavery and ensuring equal rights for all citizens had been part of the U.S. Constitution for more than 25 years.” (Paragraph 1)

• “His lawyers argued that the law mandating rail car segregation was unconstitutional because of the 14th Amendment, which ensured equal protection under the law for all citizens.” (Paragraph 3)

• “He believed it was wrong to undermine the 14th Amendment in this way, when the majority of the country had favored the new law.” (Paragraph 6)

• “Laws that explicitly segregated the races could not be challenged in court anymore; the Supreme Court had given segregation the legal ‘okay,’ and states took advantage of this to establish segregation for decades to come.” (Paragraph 7)

Which of the following describes the relationship between Jim Crow and Plessy v. Ferguson?

• Jim Crow segregation laws compelled Plessy to protest segregated trains.

• Jim Crow segregation laws were made possible by the Plessy v. Ferguson decision.

• Plessy v. Ferguson hoped to end the segregation common during Jim Crow.

• Plessy v. Ferguson made Jim Crow laws widely accepted, but not officially legal.

How does the author’s discussion of Jim Crow help readers understand the consequences of racial segregation laws?

• It emphasizes how African Americans had access to lower quality services and spaces, and more difficulty participating in voting.

• It stresses that African Americans had to travel north if they wanted to avoid the discrimination present in the South.

• It shows how many spaces were reserved for whites, while people of color were not allowed their own spaces.

• It highlights how dangerous it was for African Americans to challenge Jim Crow laws in the South.

What does “separate, but equal” mean, and why is it important in the text?