Which court case overturned the doctrine of "separate but equal" established by Plessy v. Ferguson?

Study for the ORELA Oregon Civil Rights Teachers Exam. Learn key concepts and prepare with multiple-choice questions, hints, and explanations. Boost your knowledge and ensure success!

The case that overturned the doctrine of "separate but equal," established by Plessy v. Ferguson, is indeed Brown v. Board of Education. In this landmark Supreme Court decision, the Court unanimously ruled that racial segregation in public schools was inherently unequal and therefore unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This ruling directly challenged and dismantled the legal foundation for segregation that had been upheld for nearly six decades.

Brown v. Board of Education was critical because it not only addressed the specific issue of public education but also set a precedent that segregation in other public facilities and areas violated equal protection rights. The decision ignited the Civil Rights Movement, encouraging further legal and social challenges against segregation and discrimination. The ruling expressed that no matter the intention, segregation was detrimental to African American children and society at large, thus reshaping civil rights law in the United States.

Brown’s significance lies in its broad implications for dismantling institutionalized racism and promoting equality, making it a pivotal moment in American legal history.

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