Brown v. the Board of Education

By: Steve Theil, Matt Steer, Tera Timmerman, Jazmine Miner

What it is

Known to be one of the greatest Supreme Court decisions of the 20th century, the Brown v. Board battle brought the attention to the people of the united states about segregation in public schools and how it violated the 14th amendment.

14th Amendment

Section 1 of the 14th Amendment states : No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the united states; nor shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; nor deny any person within its jurisdiction

the equal protection of the laws.

1954...

In 1954 the United States had large portions of of racially segregated schools

How was this possible?

This action was made legal by Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 that stated segregated public places were constitutional as long as they were “equal”

What started this revolution?

in the late 1940s at a suburban kansas city neighborhood of South Park, white students could look forward to moving into a brand new brick school while the neighborhoods black students attended the 88 year old, two-room walker school. the facility had no plumbing, cafeteria, or even a principal. when a woman by the name of Esther Brown learned about the conditions of the school from her black maid she began to campaign to improve the facility .

Thats her

Were any changes made?

When Esther faced the all-white School Board, they agreed to make minimal improvements such as installing new light bulbs, after meeting with the board Brown felt “nauseated”.

Actions taken next...

After being turned down by the all-white School board, Brown stepped up her efforts by organizing meetings of black parents and trying to rally white parents to join her cause.

Results of Brown’s actions

Despite the efforts of Esther Brown, the School Board continued to turn her requests down.

Next course of action...

Esther now getting angry and tired of dealing with the board of education decided to take matters into her own hands by hiring a black attorney by the name of Elisha Scott.

Outcome

Scott filed a lawsuit against the South Park District, the public grew angry and started to threaten Brown by burning crosses in her yard and getting her husband fired from his job.

May 17, 1954...

After reviewing the lawsuit in court, the Supreme Court announced that segregation violated equal protection stated in the fourteenth amendment and public education was non segregated.

Works Cited"Brown v. Board at Fifty "With an Even Hand"." www.Libraryofcongress.gov. N.p.. Web. 1 Dec 2014.

McBride, Alex. "Brown v. Board of Education." www.PBS.org. Thirteen/WNET New York, 6 12 2006. Web. 1 Dec 2014.

"Fourteenth Amendment." www.law.cornell.edu. Cornell University Law School. Web. 1 Dec 2014.

Videoshttp://www.zimbio.com/watch/VrLdv8FAGRD/Significance+Brown+v+Board+Education/A+Celebration+of+Black+History

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TTGHLdr-iak