Plessy Vs Ferguson Essay

Alexander Newton stated in his third law, “With every action, comes an equal and opposite reaction.” Newton made this statement in the context of motion, but this concept transfers to everyday life. All actions have consequences. In the history of the United States, the leaders made decisions to act, forcing them to live with the consequences of their actions. While some of these decisions were minor and did not affect the public as a whole, others shook the country to its core. The United States’ decision to allow the segregation of African Americans is arguably the most controversial law ever enforced in the United States. The consequences of this decision are felt today in the wake of the landmark Supreme Court cases Plessy v Ferguson and Brown v Board of Education. Some people today
Plessy was an ideal individual to test the legal system of the country at that time because he was only one eighth African American. Despite his light complexion, he was required to sit in the colored section. Plessy refused to move from his seat, was arrested, and sent to prison. Instead of taking the punishment, he decided to test the segregation precedent in the court system. (Wormser, n.d.) The case went to the highest level of court in the United States when in 1896, the case Plessy v Ferguson reached the Supreme Court. Once all of the testimony and closing arguments had been made, the Supreme Court returned from deliberation ruling in favor of the defense. The court determined that segregation was not considered discrimination, as long as the facilities were created equally for white people and people of color. On that day the precedent of separate but equal came into full effect. Plessy sought out to have the segregation law overturned by the Supreme Court, but the decision held, solidified the Jim Crow laws, and segregation