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