Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) Social Science Practice Test

In the Plessy v. Ferguson decision, the Supreme Court ruled that:

1. Separate but equal facilities for different races were unconstitutional

2. Public transportation must be integrated

3. Separate but equal facilities for different races were constitutional

4. Racial segregation was an infringement on civil rights

The correct answer is: Separate but equal facilities for different races were constitutional

The Supreme Court's ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson established the doctrine of "separate but equal," which acknowledged that state laws requiring racial segregation in public facilities were constitutional, as long as the segregated facilities were ostensibly equal in quality. This landmark decision effectively sanctioned the continuation of racial segregation across many aspects of American life, including education and public transportation, reinforcing the legal basis for segregation that would persist for decades. This ruling had profound implications, as it legitimized discriminatory practices and allowed states to maintain separate facilities for African Americans and whites, despite the inherent inequalities that often existed. As a result, the Plessy v. Ferguson decision played a significant role in the institutionalization of racial segregation until it was eventually challenged and overturned in later cases, most notably Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. The ruling illustrated the prevailing attitudes of the time toward race relations in the United States and how the legal system upheld segregationist policies.