"Color-Blind" Constitution and the Decision in Plessy v. Ferguson
When discussing the landmark Supreme Court Case, Plessy v. Ferguson, Ted Shaw of the University of North Carolina Law School and Michael Klarman of Harvard Law School explained the majority decision and the dissenting opinion in the case. They discussed the idea of a "color blind" Constitution and Justice Harlan's dissenting opinion.
Description
When discussing the landmark Supreme Court Case, Plessy v. Ferguson, Ted Shaw of the University of North Carolina Law School and Michael Klarman of Harvard Law School explained the majority decision and the dissenting opinion in the case. They discussed the idea of a "color blind" Constitution and Justice Harlan's dissenting opinion.
Bell Ringer Assignment
- How did the Supreme Court rule in Plessy v. Ferguson?
- What is meant by Justice Brown's phrase "in the nature of things?"
- Explain the idea of a "color-blind" Constitution. How has the Supreme Court interpreted this?
- Explain Justice Harlan's dissenting opinion in Plessy v. Ferguson?
Additional Resource
- Lesson Plan: Reconstruction Era
This lesson includes a collection of video clips highlighting some of the key people, legislation, organizations and events that emerged during this era and made a lasting impact on the country.
Participants
Vocabulary
- Color-blind
- Constitution
- Dissent
- Reconciliation
- Reconstruction
- Supreme Court