Oliver Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka Citations 347 U.S. 483 Gina Gossett and Brendan Berton

What is the constitutional issue involved in the case? There was two schools one for blacks and one for whites, both schools had similar buildings, transportation, curricula, and teachers. They were separate but equal schools which violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Who were the parties involved in the case? Oliver L. Brown, was a parent, who’s daughter Linda Carol Brown, a third grader, had to walk six blocks to her school bus stop to ride to Monroe Elementary, her segregated black school one mile (1.6 km) away, while Sumner Elementary, a white school, was seven blocks from her house. He filed the suit against the Board of Education of the City of Topeka, Kansas in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas.

When and where did the case take place? The case took place on May 17, 1954 and it was in Topeka, Kansas

What events lead up to the case going before the Supreme Court? The case of Brown v. Board of Education as heard before the Supreme Court combined five cases: Brown itself, Briggs v. Elliott (filed in South Carolina), Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County (filed in Virginia), Gebhart v. Belton (filed in Delaware), and Bolling v. Sharpe (filed in Washington, D.C.).

What Court or courts heard this before getting to the Supreme Court? The U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, the brown case was combined with other from Virginia, South Carolina and Delaware and bypassed the circuit court.

Historical Context: what was happening in the world that this case needed to be tried? The Civil Rights Movement. A growing group of Americans spoke out against inequality and injustice during the 1950s. African Americans had been fighting against racial discrimination for centuries; during the 1950s, however, the struggle against racism and segregation entered the mainstream of American life.

What was the Supreme Court’s ruling / decision? On May 17, 1954, the Court issued a unanimous 9–0 decision in favor of the Brown family and the other plaintiffs. The Court then concluded its relatively short opinion by declaring that segregated public education was inherently unequal, violated the Equal Protection Clause, and therefore was unconstitutional.

What was the reasoning given by the Supreme Court for making their decision? The Court stated that using historical information on the original scope of the Fourteenth Amendment's application to public education was difficult because of intervening societal and governmental changes. It noted that in 1868, when the Amendment was adopted, public schools were uncommon in the American South. White children whose families could afford schooling usually attended private schools, and the education of black children was "almost nonexistent"—in fact, in some Southern states, any education of black people had been forbidden by law. The Court contrasted this with the situation in 1954: "Today, education is perhaps the most important function of our local and state governments." It concluded that, in making its ruling, the Court would have to "consider public education in light of its full development and its present place in American life throughout the Nation."

Opposing viewpoints The board of Education believes that Housing and schooling have become interdependent. So the segregation of schools has reinforced segregation in housing, making it likely that a change in school admission policies will have a dramatic effect on neighborhoods, placing a heavy burden on local government to deal with the changes.

How do you feel about the ruling? Why? I feel that the ruling was fair because segregation is against the constitution based upon the 14 amendment.(Pretnik 14) That amendment states that no State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

A)What was the Supreme Court vote in the majority ? B)Which justice wrote the opinion for the majority? C)Describe the majority opinion… D)Were there any concurrent opinions written by whom? The majority opinion was in favor with Brown Earl Warren It was a unanimous vote in Browns favor The Civil Rights Movement by a group of Americans who spoke out against inequality and injustice during the 1950s.

Describe significance of other court cases related to your case Describe significance of other court cases related to your case. Identify the immediate impact as well as long-term impact on society from this case. Why this case is considered “Landmark”? Brown vs. Board of education was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in which the Court ruled that American state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools are unconstitutional.