What was the main result of the Supreme Court decision in Plessy v. Ferguson?

Study for the American History AIR Test. Explore questions with hints and explanations. Prepare to excel and ensure your success!

The Supreme Court decision in Plessy v. Ferguson primarily upheld the "separate but equal" doctrine, which legitimized racial segregation in public facilities. This 1896 ruling determined that state laws requiring racial segregation in public transport and other facilities did not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, as long as the separate facilities for the races were considered equal.

This decision had significant implications for civil rights in the United States, as it effectively allowed for the continuation of systemic discrimination against African Americans under the guise of providing "separate but equal" accommodations. It set a legal precedent that would justify segregation for several decades, until it was eventually overturned by Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.

The other options do not relate to the Plessy v. Ferguson case. The abolition of slavery occurred earlier with the Thirteenth Amendment, women's suffrage was addressed later with the Nineteenth Amendment, and the principle of judicial review was established through the landmark case Marbury v. Madison. Therefore, the ruling's affirmation of the "separate but equal" doctrine is crucial for understanding the context of racial segregation in American history.

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