Question

sentence starters: 1. the plessy vs ferguson case involved _____ (who) and centered around ___ (what) because ___ (why). 2. the main principle established by this court case is ___, which means ___. 3. this ruling impacted the lives of african americans in the united states by ___. 4. justice harlan disagreed with the other justices because _____.

Explanation:

1. Homer Plessy, a man of mixed - race heritage, challenged Louisiana's Separate Car Act. He was 7/8 white and 1/8 black and refused to sit in the "colored" train car.
2. The "separate but equal" doctrine was established. It meant that racial segregation was legal as long as the separate facilities were of equal quality (though in practice they rarely were).
3. It legally enforced racial segregation in public facilities, limiting African Americans' access to equal opportunities in education, housing, and public life.
4. Justice Harlan believed that the Constitution should be "color - blind" and that the separation of citizens based on race was a violation of the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

Answer:

1. Homer Plessy; the Separate Car Act; he was of mixed - race and refused to sit in the "colored" car.
2. the "separate but equal" doctrine; racial segregation is legal if facilities are of equal quality.
3. legally enforcing racial segregation in public facilities and limiting opportunities.
4. he believed the Constitution should be "color - blind" and segregation violated the 14th Amendment.