Which U.S. Supreme Court case established the principle of "separate but equal"?

The principle of "separate but equal" was established in the landmark Supreme Court case of Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896. This case arose from a Louisiana law that required racial segregation in public facilities, specifically in railway cars. The Supreme Court ruled that segregation was constitutional as long as the separate facilities for the two races were equal. This ruling effectively upheld racial discrimination and provided legal justification for segregation in various aspects of public life, including education, transportation, and accommodations.

The significance of Plessy v. Ferguson lies in its long-lasting impact on American society, enabling Jim Crow laws and systemic discrimination against African Americans for decades. It wasn't until Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 that the "separate but equal" doctrine was overturned, declaring that separate educational facilities were inherently unequal and thus unconstitutional. Understanding the implications of Plessy v. Ferguson is crucial to grasping the historical context of race relations in the United States and the legal battles that followed.