Brown vs Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The case was argued before the Supreme Court on December 9, 1952 and decided on May 17, 1954. It was one of the most important civil rights cases in American history.
Background
The case began when Oliver Brown, an African-American father from Topeka, Kansas, attempted to enroll his daughter Linda in an all-white elementary school near their home. When he was denied admission due to the school’s policy of racial segregation, Brown filed a lawsuit against the Board of Education of Topeka.
Arguments
The arguments presented by both sides focused on whether or not racial segregation violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The plaintiffs argued that segregated schools were inherently unequal and thus violated the clause. The defendants argued that segregated schools did not violate the clause because they provided equal educational opportunities for all students.
Decision
In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Brown and declared that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. The court held that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal and thus violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.