Which case addressed the legality of racial segregation in public schools?

Study for the FCLE Court Cases and Amendments Exam. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare thoroughly for your test!

The case that addressed the legality of racial segregation in public schools is Brown v. Board of Education. This landmark decision, issued by the Supreme Court in 1954, fundamentally changed the landscape of American education by ruling that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Court's unanimous decision in Brown v. Board of Education overturned the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson, which had upheld the "separate but equal" doctrine, allowing for segregation as long as the separate facilities were deemed to be equal. In contrast, Brown highlighted that segregated schools were inherently unequal and created a sense of inferiority among African American children that undermined their educational opportunities. This case was a crucial turning point in the Civil Rights Movement, leading to desegregation efforts across the country.

The other cases listed, while significant in their own rights, do not directly pertain to public school segregation. Plessy v. Ferguson dealt with racial segregation in public transportation. Loving v. Virginia addressed interracial marriage legality, and Miranda v. Arizona focused on the rights of individuals in police custody. Each of these cases has contributed to the evolution of civil rights law, but Brown v. Board of Education is

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