U5 Brown v. Board of Education Topeka (1954)

Question 1

What are the facts of the case?

Answer 1

The city of Topeka created policy pursuing Separate but Equal Doctrine to separate HS for white & black students. Brown, father of a black student, sued city with help from NAACP. He argued these separation laws violated the Equal Protection Clause.

Question 2

What was the Question/Issue of the case?

Answer 2

Does state-mandated racial segregation in public schools violate equal protection clause?

Question 3

What was the Decision of the case?

Answer 3

Unanimous - Brown
Segregated schools are inherently unequal and a violation of equal protection clause.

Question 4

What was the significance of the case?

Answer 4

Courts expanded desegregation into other rights (civic, economic & political).

Question 5

What was the constitutional clause involved in the case?

Answer 5

Equal Protection Clause

Question 6

Is this an example of Judicial Activism or Judicial Restraint?

Answer 6

Judicial Activism