In 1892, Plessy attempted to sit in an all-white railroad car. After refusing to sit in the black railway carriage car, Plessy was arrested for violating an 1890 Louisiana statute that provided for segregated “separate but equal” railroad accommodations. Those using facilities not designated for their race were criminally liable under the statute.
At trial with Justice John H. Ferguson (D) presiding, Plessy was found guilty on the grounds that the law was a reasonable exercise of the state’s police powers based upon custom, usage, and tradition in the state. Plessy filed a petition for writs of prohibition and certiorari in the Supreme Court of Louisiana against Ferguson, asserting that segregation stigmatized blacks and stamped them with a badge of inferiority in violation of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth amendments. The court found for Ferguson and the Supreme Court granted cert.
Plessy Vs Ferguson is the famous United States Supreme Court case that dealt with the the Supreme Court deciding to uphold the constitutionality of the state laws that required racial segregation in private businesses, under the doctrine "separate but equal." The Supreme Court decision was decided by a seven to one vote, in favor of keeping the law upheld.
The Case
On June 7, 1892 Homer Plessy boarded on the Easy Louisiana Railroad in New Orleans and he was headed to Covington, Louisiana. When he boarded the car on the train he boarded the car that was designated for white people only, which was a state law. Home Plessy was a born free man who was one-eight black and seven-eights white, however, under the Louisiana law of 1890, he was still considered black and therefore would be required to sit in the "colored" car. When Plessy was told to leave the white car and go to the colored car, he refused and they arrested and jailed him.
When this case, Homer Adolph Plessy vs. The State of Louisiana, first went to trial Plessy argued that the state laws that segregated trains had denied him his rights under both the thirteenth and fourteenth amendments. Unfortunately for Plessy the judge, John Howard Ferguson, did not agree with him and he ruled in favor of the railroad companies.
Plessy along with the Committee of Citizens, who were helping him, decided to take this case and appeal to the Louisiana Supreme Court. When Plessy got there the also was met with an unsympathetic judge and ruling. From that point on Plessy along with his committee took it to the Supreme court where they too turned the case down.
At trial with Justice John H. Ferguson (D) presiding, Plessy was found guilty on the grounds that the law was a reasonable exercise of the state’s police powers based upon custom, usage, and tradition in the state. Plessy filed a petition for writs of prohibition and certiorari in the Supreme Court of Louisiana against Ferguson, asserting that segregation stigmatized blacks and stamped them with a badge of inferiority in violation of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth amendments. The court found for Ferguson and the Supreme Court granted cert.
Plessy Vs Ferguson is the famous United States Supreme Court case that dealt with the the Supreme Court deciding to uphold the constitutionality of the state laws that required racial segregation in private businesses, under the doctrine "separate but equal." The Supreme Court decision was decided by a seven to one vote, in favor of keeping the law upheld.
The Case
On June 7, 1892 Homer Plessy boarded on the Easy Louisiana Railroad in New Orleans and he was headed to Covington, Louisiana. When he boarded the car on the train he boarded the car that was designated for white people only, which was a state law. Home Plessy was a born free man who was one-eight black and seven-eights white, however, under the Louisiana law of 1890, he was still considered black and therefore would be required to sit in the "colored" car. When Plessy was told to leave the white car and go to the colored car, he refused and they arrested and jailed him.
When this case, Homer Adolph Plessy vs. The State of Louisiana, first went to trial Plessy argued that the state laws that segregated trains had denied him his rights under both the thirteenth and fourteenth amendments. Unfortunately for Plessy the judge, John Howard Ferguson, did not agree with him and he ruled in favor of the railroad companies.
Plessy along with the Committee of Citizens, who were helping him, decided to take this case and appeal to the Louisiana Supreme Court. When Plessy got there the also was met with an unsympathetic judge and ruling. From that point on Plessy along with his committee took it to the Supreme court where they too turned the case down.