Plessey V. Ferguson (1896) Landmark Supreme Court Case

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Recommended: Importance of affirmative action

Describe the Plessey v. Ferguson (1896) landmark Supreme Court case.
According to PBS’s record of landmark court cases, Plessey v. Ferguson was a case about a man who was one-eighth African American that purchased a first class ticket and sat in a white-only section. He was arrested and imprisoned. The case cited the Equal Right Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment that "any person within their jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws," The court ruled that the Fourteenth Amendment was referring to protecting civil and political rights such as serving on juries and voting, but not “social rights” such as sitting on a specific car on a train. Justice John Marshall was the only judge to dissent he said “"in view of the Constitution, in the eye of the law, there is …show more content…

According to Merriam Webster Afirmative Action is “an active effort to improve the employment or educational opportunities of members of minority groups and women”
"Affirmative Action." Def. 1. Merriam Webster. Merriam Webster, n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.
Why did the House and the Senate create legislation for Affirmative Action? According to the history channel legislation for affirmative action was created to make acts of discrimination illegal. The legislation in the 1964 Civil Rights act prohibited discrimination in employment to help create equal opportunities for members of minority groups. Racial groups were not they only groups protected as the legislation forbid discrimination for age, pregnancy, and disability as well.
"Civil Rights Act." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2015.
What year was Affirmative Action developed and by whom?
Acording to Borgna Brunner and Beth Rowen, affirmative action was introduced as a term by President John F Kennedy. Due to Kennedy’s untimely death, Affirmative action was not implemented until the Johnson Administration.
Brunner, Borgna, and Beth Rowen. "Affirmative Action History."Infoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web.

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