Plessy V. Ferguson Plessy V. Ferguson (1896)(1896)

Matt Wilson Matt Wilson

Pd.2 Pd.2

Honors American History IIHonors American History II

How did races become How did races become integratedintegrated

Most people believe “Brown V. Most people believe “Brown V. Board of Education Board of Education

Actually started with “Plessy V. Actually started with “Plessy V. Ferguson”Ferguson”

Plessy V. FergusonPlessy V. Ferguson

Can Louisiana Can Louisiana mandate separate mandate separate railroadrailroadcarscars

Blacks Railroad Blacks Railroad carscars

White Railroad White Railroad carscars

Plessy V. FergusonPlessy V. Ferguson Homer PlessyHomer Plessy

Born:Born: 17 March 1863 17 March 1863

Birthplace:Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana

Died:Died: 1 March 1925 1 March 1925

Plessy V. FergusonPlessy V. Ferguson

Plessy did not look blackPlessy did not look black

1/161/16thth black legally classified as black legally classified as black.black.

HOMER PLESSY 7/8 WHITE!!!HOMER PLESSY 7/8 WHITE!!!

1/8 Black1/8 Black

Plessy V. FergusonPlessy V. Ferguson

Riding on a train up Riding on a train up northnorth

Paid for a first class Paid for a first class ticketticket

East Louisiana RailwayEast Louisiana Railway New Orleans to New Orleans to

Covington.Covington. Train crossed the Train crossed the

Mason Dixie lineMason Dixie line

Plessy v. FergusonPlessy v. Ferguson

Move to the back of the trainMove to the back of the train

Refused and wasRefused and was

removed from the train. removed from the train.

He sued the He sued the

train company.train company.

““The Case”The Case”

Appellant:Appellant: Homer A. Plessy Homer A. Plessy Respondent:Respondent: New Orleans Criminal New Orleans Criminal

District Court Judge J.H. FergusonDistrict Court Judge J.H. Ferguson

Appellant's Claim:Appellant's Claim: violated right to violated right to equal protection under lawequal protection under law

““The Case”The Case”

Place:Place: Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision:Date of Decision: May 18, 1896 May 18, 1896

Decision:Decision: "separate but equal" "separate but equal" constitutionalconstitutional

Unfortunately, Plessy Unfortunately, Plessy did not win.did not win.

Courts believe facilities were equalCourts believe facilities were equal Separate facilities based on color.Separate facilities based on color.

The Verdict and Final The Verdict and Final Quotes Quotes

““Fourteenth Amendment (previously Fourteenth Amendment (previously established)established)

Equality of the two racesEquality of the two races

By nature couldn't abolishBy nature couldn't abolish

distinctions on colordistinctions on color

So there still was discrimination So there still was discrimination

The Outcome The Outcome

Blacks where forced to live Blacks where forced to live separate/equalseparate/equal

“Separate but equal . . .”

•Schools

•Churches

•Restaurants

•Movies

•Hotels

• Libraries

•Housing

• ...you name it

What was still under the control of Blacks?

Their Church’s

AfterwardsAfterwards

Blacks still fought Blacks still fought

No Hope in sight No Hope in sight

Finally FreedomFinally Freedom

Later case’s Founded black freedomLater case’s Founded black freedom

Brown V. Board of Education Brown V. Board of Education

Integrated Blacks and Whites in schoolIntegrated Blacks and Whites in school

One step of many One step of many

Black FreedomBlack Freedom

THE ENDTHE END