Foundation
“Ever since the case Marbury v. Madison in 1803, the Court has had the power to
‘strike down’ laws which it decides are unconstitutional.”
-Mark Rathbone, Canford School
‘strike down’ laws which it decides are unconstitutional.”
-Mark Rathbone, Canford School
Prior to 1954, the United States of America was at war within itself. Since the beginning of the nineteenth century, African Americans have been struggling for the ability to have as equivalent treatment as their Caucasians counterparts in every aspect of life. In 1849, African Americans saw a glimmer of hope. A small battle began in Boston, Massachusetts when African American parents challenged the city’s racially segregated schools. Roberts v. City of Boston went before the Massachusetts Supreme Court where the
verdict was found in favor of the defendant. Although this battle was lost, it still put the idea of integration into the minds of the state legislature. Six years later, Massachusetts decided to integrate their school system. Even though Massachusetts was ground breaking by integrating its schools, few states followed suit.
In the years that followed, there were plenty of hurdles to jump through. After approximately forty one years, there was another Supreme Court case that led the way for Brown v. Board of Education; Plessy v. Ferguson. Homer Plessy purchased a ticket on a Louisiana train to sit in the ‘white-only’ car. Being one eighth African American, he was asked to remove himself of the car and sit in a separate ‘black-only’car. After refusing to leave, the train conductor had Plessy eradicated from the train and arrested. In 1896, Judge Henry Billings Brown found that Plessy’s rights were not violated. Although Plessy v. Ferguson focused on Plessy’s constitutional rights to sit in the ‘white-only’train car, arguments were raised based on the Roberts v. City of Boston Supreme Court case. By using the previous case of Roberts v. City of Boston, Justice Brown found that 'the establishment of separate schools for white and colored children' was 'a valid exercise of the legislative power' (Rathbone 2). With the establishment of the 'separate but equal' ideal, the Plessy v. Ferguson decision helped the formation and spread of ‘Jim Crow’laws. These laws imposed segregation in every aspect of life for African Americans. Although the law stated ‘separate but equal’, predominately this far from reality.
In 1946, fifty years after Plessy v. Ferguson; Mendez v. Westminster was decided by the California Supreme Court. Parents of Hispanic children who attended Orange County’s Westminster School District were challenging the school district’s segregated schooling. California as well as many other southwestern states was segregating children based on language. Most often, these segregated schools were 'inferior ‘Mexican
schools’(Saenz 276). These parents insisted that their children were segregated on the basis of ethnic and racial background. When brought before the California Supreme Court, the verdict was found in favor of the plaintiff leading to the integration Hispanic schools in California.
Mendez v. Westminster is the last Supreme Court Case before the infamous Brown v. Board of Education decision. Without Mendez v. Westminster, Plessy v. Ferguson and the overturn of Roberts v. City of Boston, there would have not been evidence for any of the Supreme Court cases involving segregation and
integration that followed, including Brown v. Board of Education. Without those three influential cases, the Brown v. Board of Education decision would not have made as much of an impact as it did.
verdict was found in favor of the defendant. Although this battle was lost, it still put the idea of integration into the minds of the state legislature. Six years later, Massachusetts decided to integrate their school system. Even though Massachusetts was ground breaking by integrating its schools, few states followed suit.
In the years that followed, there were plenty of hurdles to jump through. After approximately forty one years, there was another Supreme Court case that led the way for Brown v. Board of Education; Plessy v. Ferguson. Homer Plessy purchased a ticket on a Louisiana train to sit in the ‘white-only’ car. Being one eighth African American, he was asked to remove himself of the car and sit in a separate ‘black-only’car. After refusing to leave, the train conductor had Plessy eradicated from the train and arrested. In 1896, Judge Henry Billings Brown found that Plessy’s rights were not violated. Although Plessy v. Ferguson focused on Plessy’s constitutional rights to sit in the ‘white-only’train car, arguments were raised based on the Roberts v. City of Boston Supreme Court case. By using the previous case of Roberts v. City of Boston, Justice Brown found that 'the establishment of separate schools for white and colored children' was 'a valid exercise of the legislative power' (Rathbone 2). With the establishment of the 'separate but equal' ideal, the Plessy v. Ferguson decision helped the formation and spread of ‘Jim Crow’laws. These laws imposed segregation in every aspect of life for African Americans. Although the law stated ‘separate but equal’, predominately this far from reality.
In 1946, fifty years after Plessy v. Ferguson; Mendez v. Westminster was decided by the California Supreme Court. Parents of Hispanic children who attended Orange County’s Westminster School District were challenging the school district’s segregated schooling. California as well as many other southwestern states was segregating children based on language. Most often, these segregated schools were 'inferior ‘Mexican
schools’(Saenz 276). These parents insisted that their children were segregated on the basis of ethnic and racial background. When brought before the California Supreme Court, the verdict was found in favor of the plaintiff leading to the integration Hispanic schools in California.
Mendez v. Westminster is the last Supreme Court Case before the infamous Brown v. Board of Education decision. Without Mendez v. Westminster, Plessy v. Ferguson and the overturn of Roberts v. City of Boston, there would have not been evidence for any of the Supreme Court cases involving segregation and
integration that followed, including Brown v. Board of Education. Without those three influential cases, the Brown v. Board of Education decision would not have made as much of an impact as it did.
For further information on the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas trial, continue to Legal Proceedings.
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