Segregation+definition,+Plessy+Vs.+Ferguson+&+Separate+but+equal

//**__Segregation definition, Plessy V__**////**__s. Ferguson / Separate but equal__**// Date: Argued April 13, 1896 Decided May 18th, 1896
 * Segregation: the enforced separation of different racial groups in a country, community, or establishment.


 * Plessy Vs Ferguson / Separate but Equal: controversial U.S Supreme Court case, upholding the constitutionality of state laws requiring segregation in private businesses, under the saying "separate but equal".

Background Info

 * During this time period, African American's political rights were guaranteed by three amendments.


 * The Civil Rights Act of 1875 made it a crime for an individual to deny "the full and equal enjoyment of any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges of inns, public conveyances on land or water, theaters and other places of public amusement; subject only to the conditions and limitations established by law, and aplicable alike to citizens of every race and color."


 * The Supreme Court Struck this act down in because the 14th Amendment does not give the Congress the authority to prevent discrimination of private individuals.


 * Victims of Discrimination were told to seek relief from the states instead of the Federal Government.


 * But the state governments were passing legislation that arranges inequality between the races which makes the relief useless.


 * One of these legislation was a separate car law where there is a segregated accommodations for each race.. This legislation was passed in Louisana.


 * A group of concerned young black men from New Orleans formed a group called "Citizens' Committee to Test the Constitutionality of the Separate Car Law."


 * Lousiana State Supreme Court has decided in favor of the claim that the segregated car law was **unconstitutional** because it applied to **interstate travel.**


 * This encouraged the committee to press a test case on interstate travel leading to the case,

Case

 * ** Homer Plessy: a mulatto (7/8 white, 1/8 black) boarded a train in New Orleans, and sat in the white-only railcar. **


 * When asked to move to the colored-only car despite being mostly white, he refused and was immediately arrested.


 * His lawyer argued that the separate car law is constitutional because it applied to interstate travel. **John H. Ferguson** ruled against him.


 * In court, Plessy argued that he had been denied of his rights, but all the courts still found him ** guilty ** . Plessy eventually pled guilty and paid his fine.

**Legality**

 * The Train company argued that it is constitutional to segregate as long as both compartments were fair and both the same quality of service and quality of goods.
 * This arrest was argued that it was a violation of the 14th Amendment (Look at 14th Amendment)

Aftermath
14th Amendment > __//**NO STATE**//__ SHALL MAKE OR ENFORCE __//**ANY LAW**//__ WHICH SHALL ABRIDGE THE __**//PRIVILEGES//**__ OR __//**IMMUNITIES**//__ OF CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES __//Louisiana//__ Separate Car Act
 * This solidified the legal foundation of the doctrine "separate but equal", the idea that segregation was legal in private businesses (railroads, etc) as long as the facilities were equal.
 * However, the doctrine was complete **fiction**, the facilities for blacks were always **inferior** to those for whites. This would last until 1950's and 60's when it was struck down.
 * Section 1.All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
 * Section 1.
 * 13th 14th and 15th Amendments were created after the Civil War, this case was in the year 1896.
 * Prevented Whites and Blacks from sitting together in the same car.
 * Was not a national act, it was a __//State//__ act


 * http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=52
 * http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_plessy.html
 * http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/plessy.html
 * http://www.gop.com/index.php/issues/accomplishment/
 * http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/amendmentxiv