Separate but Equal Doctrine

Separate but Equal

Can things be separate but equal? yes or no

1
 Brown vs. Board of Education Case

A Black 3rd grade girl, Linda Brown, living in Topeka,

Kansas had to walk more than a mile through a railroad
switchyard to get to her segregated school for black
children.
However, there was an elementary school for white
children less than seven blocks away (much closer)
Her father tried to get her into the white school, but the
principal refused.

This was legal as long as They did not give up.

the segregated schools
were "separate but equal"
So, the NAACP helped her
father and other families
file a lawsuit claiming that
the White and Black
schools in Topeka, Kansas
were not "separate but
equal"
In the lower federal
district courts, they lost
the lawsuit.
They reargued the case
again a year later and it
was brought to the
Supreme Court (highest
court).
After 3 years, they won
the case! The decision
was unanimous, all 9
justices voted in favor.
They had proved that
Separate was not Equal.

They found that Separate but equal educational facilities

is inherently unequal and violates the Equal Protection
Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
This decision made the racial segregation of schools
against the law in all U.S. states. States were given up to 5
years to de-segregate and begin to integrate their schools.
2
 Separate but Equal Education Images

White
Black

3
 Evidence & Facts of the Case

Is not Equal Is Equal

4
 Equal Protection Clause of the
14th Amendment

No state shall deny to any person the

equal protections provided by the

law.

The governing body state must treat

an individual in the same manner as

others in similar conditions and

circumstances.

5
 Decision Based on the Facts & Law

Does Separate but Equal follow the law in

this case?
yes or no
Give some examples to support this choice...