TExES Social Studies Content Practice Exam 2025 – Complete All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

The Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka fundamentally overturned the precedent established in Plessy v. Ferguson. In 1896, the Plessy decision upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine, which allowed for the existence of separate facilities for different races as long as they were deemed equal. This ruling effectively legitimized state laws that enforced segregation in public facilities, including schools.

In contrast, Brown v. Board of Education found that segregating public schools based on race creates a sense of inferiority that affects the motivation of educationally and emotionally ready children. The Court argued that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal, thus violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This landmark decision directly challenged and overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine, establishing that segregation in public education is unconstitutional, regardless of the equality of the facilities provided.