Introduction
Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas was one of the most influential Supreme Court cases of the twentieth century. Commonly referred to as Brown v. BOE, this website is devoted to educating the public about this particular court case that changed American’s approach to education. Throughout this website readers will discover the origin, legal proceedings, effects and its powerful impact after fifty nine years.
Timeline of Important Events
1849: The Massachusetts Supreme Court upholds racial segregation in schools in Roberts v. City of Boston.
1855: Massachusetts desegregates its schools.
1896: In Plessy v. Ferguson, the United Stated Supreme Court establishes the constitutionality of ‘separate but equal’ facilities for different races.
1938: In Gaines v. Canada, the United States Supreme Court rules that sending African Americans to a law school in another state cannot satisfy a state’s obligation to provide equal facilities.
1946: The California Supreme Court, in Mendez v. Westminster; ends segregation of Hispanic children in schools.
1948: In Delgado v. Bastrop Independent School District, the Texas Supreme Court outlaws segregation of Mexican-American children.
1950: The United States Supreme Court condemns aspects of segregation in Universities in the court cases Sweatt v. Painter and McLaurin v. Oklahoma.
1954: The Plessy v. Ferguson ruling is overturned in Brown v. Board of Education. The United States Supreme Court outlaws racial segregation in schools. Furthermore, white resistance to school desegregation
begins with the formation of anti-civil rights groups in Indianola, Mississippi and Milford, Delaware.
1955: In Brown II, the United States Supreme Court rules that desegregation must take place with ‘all deliberate speed’.
1956: The Southern Manifesto is signed by most Southern Senators and Representatives condemning both of the Brown verdicts.
1957: President Eisenhower sends troops to Little Rock, Arkansas to protect nine African American students.
1958: In Cooper v. Aaron, the United States Supreme Court condemns the failure of Arkansas to desegregate schools.
1968: ‘Freedom of Choice Plans’ are outlawed by the United States Supreme Court in Green v. New Kent County.
1969: In Alexander v. Holmes County, the United States Supreme Court orders compulsory and immediate desegregation of schools.
1971: The United States Supreme Court declares bussing constitutional in Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
1974: In Boston, Massachusetts parents form a pressure group, Restore Our Alienated Rights (ROAR); to campaign against bussing.
2007: The United States Supreme Court rules that using race as a factor in allocating school places is a violation of the 14th Amendment’s equal protection guarantee.
1855: Massachusetts desegregates its schools.
1896: In Plessy v. Ferguson, the United Stated Supreme Court establishes the constitutionality of ‘separate but equal’ facilities for different races.
1938: In Gaines v. Canada, the United States Supreme Court rules that sending African Americans to a law school in another state cannot satisfy a state’s obligation to provide equal facilities.
1946: The California Supreme Court, in Mendez v. Westminster; ends segregation of Hispanic children in schools.
1948: In Delgado v. Bastrop Independent School District, the Texas Supreme Court outlaws segregation of Mexican-American children.
1950: The United States Supreme Court condemns aspects of segregation in Universities in the court cases Sweatt v. Painter and McLaurin v. Oklahoma.
1954: The Plessy v. Ferguson ruling is overturned in Brown v. Board of Education. The United States Supreme Court outlaws racial segregation in schools. Furthermore, white resistance to school desegregation
begins with the formation of anti-civil rights groups in Indianola, Mississippi and Milford, Delaware.
1955: In Brown II, the United States Supreme Court rules that desegregation must take place with ‘all deliberate speed’.
1956: The Southern Manifesto is signed by most Southern Senators and Representatives condemning both of the Brown verdicts.
1957: President Eisenhower sends troops to Little Rock, Arkansas to protect nine African American students.
1958: In Cooper v. Aaron, the United States Supreme Court condemns the failure of Arkansas to desegregate schools.
1968: ‘Freedom of Choice Plans’ are outlawed by the United States Supreme Court in Green v. New Kent County.
1969: In Alexander v. Holmes County, the United States Supreme Court orders compulsory and immediate desegregation of schools.
1971: The United States Supreme Court declares bussing constitutional in Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
1974: In Boston, Massachusetts parents form a pressure group, Restore Our Alienated Rights (ROAR); to campaign against bussing.
2007: The United States Supreme Court rules that using race as a factor in allocating school places is a violation of the 14th Amendment’s equal protection guarantee.
For further information on the events that led to the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, continue to Foundation.
This video is produced by PBS to provide a summation of the Brown
v. Board of Education United States Supreme Court case.
v. Board of Education United States Supreme Court case.