What was the outcome of Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)?

The outcome of Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 was pivotal in establishing the legality of racial segregation in the United States. In this case, the Supreme Court upheld the "separate but equal" doctrine, which allowed state-sponsored segregation as long as the separate facilities for the races were deemed equal. This ruling essentially provided a legal foundation for segregationist policies, particularly in the southern states, reinforcing discriminatory practices that persisted for decades.

The Court's decision articulated that segregation did not in itself constitute unlawful discrimination, thus enabling practices that separated individuals by race in public facilities including schools, transportation, and more. The implications of this ruling were profound, as it legitimized an era of Jim Crow laws that enforced racial segregation and contributed to systemic inequality and discrimination against African Americans until the mid-20th century. This context of the decision and its ramifications is critical in understanding the legal environment surrounding civil rights in the United States during this period.