Cyber-Road

To

Civil Rights

by Karen S. Becker-Marcelo

JHS 149

District 7

Bronx, NY

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Throughout it’s history, the United States

has followed a road to

Civil Rights.

But it has not always been an easy path.

YOU WILL EXAMINE 3 SUPREME COURT CASES THAT SPAN 200 YEARS

OF AMERICAN HISTORY.

YOU WILL COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE RESULTS AND SOCIAL ASPECTS

OF EACH CASE.

Finally, upon studying these cases and the history that led up to them, you will conclude why different results were achieved in different times in

History

The issue of slavery, in the 1800’s, caused

tensions to rise in the US and eventually led to the

polarization of our country.

Dred Scott, a slave, had been taken to free land. Missouri was considered a free state as part of the

Missouri Compromise of 1820.

The first battles took place in Congress and the Courts.

The Supreme Court stated that Dred Scott was a slave, the property of his master.

Therefore, he was not a US citizen and did not have the right to sue his master.

The Supreme Court decision also made the Missouri Compromise invalid.

Plessy vs. Ferguson 1896

“Separate But Equal”

The case in which Homer Plessy was jailed for sitting in the white compartment of a

Louisiana railroad car, opened the way for

separate facilities for both races.

Brown v Topeka Board of Education

1954

“Separate but Unequal”

The Supreme Court announced that separate educational facilities were unequal. This led to the dissolving

of segregation laws in the US.

These are just a few photographs taken during the Civil Rights Movement during

the 1950’s and 1960’s.

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As you do your research, you will discover how the 3 Supreme Court cases led up to our countries

Civil Rights Movement and our continuing struggle for equality.