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Plessy v. Ferguson
This case upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the doctrine "separate but equal." Plessy who was seven-eighths white, was arrested for sitting in a whites only train and was arrested for refusing to move coaches. He argued he deserved to sit in the whites only. Under an 1890 state law, railways in Louisiana are required to have "equal but separate" coaches for white and black passengers. The United Sates Supreme Court declared it constitutional for races to be kept separate. -
G.I Bill of Rights
In 1944 at the end of WW2, the U.S. makes a significant investment towards education. The G.I bill provides returning soldiers and veterans benefits such as loans and aid to go to school. It put education within reach for soldiers returning to their life. However, this bill excluded African Americans. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed this bill into law. -
Brown v. the Board of Education
The Supreme Court denied the case of Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896. Now about 60 years later, Thurgood Marshall argued that segregation of schools violated the 14th Amendment. 5 different cases in the U.S. were taken upon court. The Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional to separate children in schools. Brown v. Board of Education was a major victory however, it took several years to fully enforce desegregation. -
Cooper v. Aaron
The Supreme Court won a major battle in the south after Arkansas governor tried to challenge the courts authority over the state. After the Brown v. Board of Education case, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered desegregation. Arkansas desegregation plan faced open resistance from Arkansas legislation and governor. The governor sent out soldiers to block out African American students from entering a segregated school. The school board sued the governor, eventually the students were permitted to enter.