Plessy vs. Ferguson (1896)
Background and Details
Louisiana had a law stating that blacks and whites ride on seperate railway cars. Homer Plessy was seven-eights caucasion, one-eight african, and boarded a whites only train. Being one-eight african and considered black under Louisiana law, he was told to move to a blacks only train, but refused to and was arrested.
Decision
7 votes for Ferguson, 1 votes against. The availability of seperate but equal rights (including railway cars) is protected by the 14th Amendment, and not violated by the Louisiana law. Louisiana had the constitutional right to regulate railroad operations as long as they were in state boundaries.
Precedent
State law and private businesses may practice segregation as long as it is in state boundaries, and provides seperate but equal public facilities.
Louisiana had a law stating that blacks and whites ride on seperate railway cars. Homer Plessy was seven-eights caucasion, one-eight african, and boarded a whites only train. Being one-eight african and considered black under Louisiana law, he was told to move to a blacks only train, but refused to and was arrested.
Decision
7 votes for Ferguson, 1 votes against. The availability of seperate but equal rights (including railway cars) is protected by the 14th Amendment, and not violated by the Louisiana law. Louisiana had the constitutional right to regulate railroad operations as long as they were in state boundaries.
Precedent
State law and private businesses may practice segregation as long as it is in state boundaries, and provides seperate but equal public facilities.