Plessy v. Ferguson signaled a shift in Constitutional Law. The 13th and 14th amendments marked the end of slavery and the formal incorporation of Black Americans into the U.S. Constitution and Society.

Plessy v. Ferguson signaled a shift in Constitutional Law. The 13th and 14th amendments marked the end of slavery and the formal incorporation of Black Americans into the U.S. Constitution and Society. The argument made in Plessy is that Black Americans and white Americans can have access to separate but equal facilities, specifically Box Cars. However, Justice Harlan warned that the verdict would be detrimental to American society.
In a response of about 500 words, making reference to at least 1 reading, respond to the following prompt:
Contemporarily, we understand Plessy as an ethical and constitutional violation. However, at the time, the verdict was considered to be progressive. Reflect on why the court ruled the way that it did. What were the justifications used by the court?
Please be mindful not to apply contemporary understandings of Plessy to the case. This is meant to look at the historical significance of the decision and understand the decision in the historical period in which it was made.

Last Completed Projects