What was the impact of Plessy v. Ferguson?

The impact of Plessy v. Ferguson was significant in solidifying the legal foundation for segregation in the United States through the doctrine of "separate but equal." This landmark Supreme Court case, decided in 1896, upheld the legality of racial segregation in public facilities, provided that the separate facilities for the races were equal in quality. This ruling effectively sanctioned and legitimized the systemic discrimination against African Americans, allowing states to maintain segregation in schools, public transportation, and other public services, which led to a lengthy period of institutionalized racism.

The "separate but equal" doctrine was used to justify segregation laws known as Jim Crow laws that proliferated in the South, and it set a precedent that would not be challenged until later cases, such as Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, which ruled that separate educational facilities were inherently unequal and therefore unconstitutional. This historical context highlights why the maintenance of the separation was an essential aspect of this Supreme Court ruling.