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Plessy vs. Ferguson

Matt Dunn

&

Michael Bui

Before the Case

• Segregation was very common at that time.• Plessy argued that the law on separating

blacks and whites on trains was not constitutional. To fight this law Plessy purposely broke the law to get arrested

• The Citizens’ Committee planned to have a mixed blood person violate the law.

• A railroad conductor and a private detective, who were part of the Citizens’ Committee, detained Plessy on a train.

During Case 1

• Plessy arrived at the Louisiana district court who ruled that the law was constitutional after the case.

• After the first case, it was appealed twice in 1893 and 1896 until it finally reached the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court Case

• Tourgee, Plessys lawyer through each case came up with a strategy.

• Tourgee argued that Plessys 14th amendment and 13th amendment rights were violated.

• Out of the 9 judges, 8 judges were unconvinced by his arguments.

• Judges argued that whites and blacks were politically equal but not socially equal.(Blacks were not as socially advanced as whites)

After the Case

• The majority said that blacks and whites were treated equally under the law.

• The whites were not allowed to sit in a railroad car that were designated for blacks.

• The majority decision in the Plessy vs. Fergunson case kept racial segregation around for another 50 years.