America, An Emerging World Power: 1896-1916 -plessy V. Ferguson (1896)

The video discusses the landmark Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson, which upheld racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine. Despite the Civil Rights Acts and the 14th Amendment, discrimination persisted. Homer Plessy's arrest was a test case challenging segregation laws. The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 in favor of segregation, with Justice Harlan dissenting, stating the Constitution is colorblind. This ruling validated Jim Crow laws, enforcing racial segregation in the South. The video highlights the impact of this decision on race relations and the eventual overturning of the doctrine in Brown v. Board of Education.

What was the significance of the Plessy versus Ferguson case in American history?

How did the laws passed in southern states after 1890 affect African Americans?

What role did Homer Plessy play in challenging segregation laws?

What was the argument made against segregation based on the 14th Amendment?

What was the Supreme Court's ruling in Plessy versus Ferguson regarding separate facilities?

How did the ruling in Plessy versus Ferguson influence the creation of Jim Crow laws?

In what ways did the social hierarchy change for African Americans after the Civil War?