Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam 2025 - Free AP US History Practice Questions and Study Guide

The significance of the Brown v. Board of Education decision lies in its declaration that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional. This landmark Supreme Court case, decided in 1954, overturned the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896, which upheld the "separate but equal" doctrine. The Court's unanimous decision stated that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal, violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This ruling was a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, providing a legal foundation to challenge segregation and discrimination, and it paved the way for further legal and social advancements toward racial equality in the United States.

This decision not only affected public schools but also served as a catalyst for broader civil rights activism across the nation, prompting changes in other areas of society where segregation existed. By establishing that segregation violated constitutional principles, it reinforced the idea that all individuals are entitled to equal protection under the law, setting a significant precedent for future civil rights cases.