What did Plessy v. Ferguson establish? What was important about the Homer Plessy Supreme Court case?

Plessy v. Ferguson was a landmark case of the Supreme Court of the United States. In this case, it was decided that racial segregation laws are valid, as long as facilities for both black and white are equal.

This case established a doctrine known as “separate but equal”. The case started in 1892.

Homer Plessy is a mixed-race resident of New Orleans. He intentionally violated Louisiana’s 1890 Separate Car Act.

The Act required separate but equal railroad accommodations for both races. This means that whites ought to sit in vehicles for white people.

And black people are required to sit in cars for black people. Plessy boarded a “whites-only” car.

He was arrested and charged for it, given his mixed-race background.  Plessy looked white, yet under Louisiana law, he is black.

His lawyers argued that the law was unconstitutional. Plessy lost the case.

The conviction was sustained by the Louisiana Supreme Court. He then appealed to the U.S Supreme Court where he lost again by a 7-1 ruling against him.

 

What did Plessy v. Ferguson establish?

The case of Plessy v. Ferguson established the “separate but equal” doctrine.

What was important about the Homer Plessy Supreme Court case?

The Homer Plessy Supreme Court case established racial segregation as validly constitutional. This case became a precedent and was upheld in a lot of cases challenging racial segregation.