The case known as Plessy v Ferguson was an important case in American history. A man named Homer Plessy refused to sit in the Blacks only train car even though he was only 1/8th black. This took place in 1896 in the state of Louisiana where Black and White people had to ride the train in separate cars. Plessy fought that the this law violated the 14th Amendment which stated that "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States."
This case took place in the "Reconstruction Era" which was the period of time that took place after the Civil War. This time was when slavery was becoming abolished in America and the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments arose. These Amendments were created to focus on making sure African American citizens were treated equally. In the state of Louisiana where the Plessy v Ferguson case took place, they had there own la known as "Separate but Equal". This law was made to ensure that the races had everything "equal" but would still be separate. This was believed to still be following the 14th Amendment.
The state of Louisiana declared the "Separate but Equal" doctrine as constitutional, which then caused Homer Plessy to lose this case. The doctrine was claimed to be constitutional as long as whites and African Americans got the same treatment at all places they went to. To the government this was fair as long as everything was equal. Overall, the Plessy v Ferguson case would be seen as unconstitutional now but back then in Louisiana it was seen as there was nothing wrong.
https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/plessy-v-ferguson
https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/plessy-v-ferguson
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