CRIMINAL CASE

Sample Solution

Case Name: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka

Citation: 347 U.S. 483 (1954)

Court: United States Supreme Court

Chief Justice: Earl Warren

Date Decided: May 17, 1954

Facts: The plaintiffs in this case were African American students who were denied admission to all-white public schools in Topeka, Kansas. The plaintiffs argued that the segregation of public schools was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Full Answer Section

Issue: Whether the segregation of public schools on the basis of race is a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Holding: Yes. The Supreme Court held that the segregation of public schools on the basis of race is a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Court reasoned that segregation creates a feeling of inferiority in African American students that cannot be undone.

Significance: The Brown decision was a landmark decision that overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine that had been upheld by the Supreme Court in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). The Brown decision paved the way for the desegregation of public schools across the United States.

The Brown decision was a major victory for the civil rights movement. It helped to end the legal segregation of public schools and paved the way for other desegregation efforts. The decision also had a significant impact on American society, helping to change attitudes about race and equality.

The Brown decision was not without its critics. Some argued that the decision was an overreach of the Supreme Court's power. Others argued that the decision would lead to violence and social unrest. However, the Brown decision ultimately proved to be a successful one. It helped to end the legal segregation of public schools and helped to create a more just and equitable society.