The decision most directly overturned which earlier ruling?

Answer: Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), which had upheld 'separate but equal' Brown directly repudiated the "separate but equal" doctrine of Plessy in the field of public education. The other cases addressed citizenship, internment, and speech—not segregation.

The Court's reasoning rejected which earlier precedent?

Answer: Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), which had upheld 'separate but equal' in transportation Brown overturned the doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson, which had legitimized de jure racial segregation under the "separate but equal" framework for over half a century.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-56)

Answer: Began after Rosa Parks's arrest; led by MLK; lasted over a year and ended bus segregation in Montgomery Launched MLK's national prominence and the strategy of nonviolent direct action.

AP US History · Topic 8.6

Early Steps in the Civil Rights Movement (1940s and 1950s) Practice

Part of Period 8: 1945–1980.

Practice questions

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Sample questions

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Sample 1difficulty 2/5
$"We come then to the question presented: Does segregation of children in public schools solely on the basis of race, even though the physical facilities and other 'tangible' factors may be equal, deprive the children of the minority group of equal educational opportunities? We believe that it does." — Chief Justice Earl Warren, Brown v. Board of Education, May 17, 1954$
$The decision most directly overturned which earlier ruling?$
- A
  $Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857), which denied Black citizenship$
- B
  $Korematsu v. United States (1944), which upheld internment$
- C
  $Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), which had upheld 'separate but equal'$
  check_circle
- D
  $Schenck v. United States (1919), which limited free speech$
Why
$Brown directly repudiated the "separate but equal" doctrine of Plessy in the field of public education. The other cases addressed citizenship, internment, and speech—not segregation.$
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Sample 2difficulty 3/5
$"We conclude that, in the field of public education, the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. Therefore, we hold that the plaintiffs\dots are, by reason of the segregation complained of, deprived of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment." — Chief Justice Earl Warren, Brown v. Board of Education, May 17, 1954$
$The Court's reasoning rejected which earlier precedent?$
- A
  $Marbury v. Madison (1803), which established judicial review$
- B
  $Korematsu v. United States (1944), which upheld Japanese internment$
- C
  $Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857), which had denied citizenship to African Americans$
- D
  $Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), which had upheld 'separate but equal' in transportation$
  check_circle
Why
$Brown overturned the doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson, which had legitimized de jure racial segregation under the "separate but equal" framework for over half a century.$
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Sample 3difficulty 3/5
$The Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-56)$
- A
  $Was a labor strike by Black bus drivers seeking higher wages, unrelated to segregation$
- B
  $Began after Rosa Parks's arrest; led by MLK; lasted over a year and ended bus segregation in Montgomery$
  check_circle
- C
  $Was a small, brief protest by a few dozen students that drew no national attention$
- D
  $Failed within weeks; Montgomery buses remained segregated until federal action in 1964$
Why
$Launched MLK's national prominence and the strategy of nonviolent direct action.$
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Sample 4difficulty 3/5
$"We conclude that, in the field of public education, the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. Therefore, we hold that the plaintiffs\dots are, by reason of the segregation complained of, deprived of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment." — Chief Justice Earl Warren, Brown v. Board of Education, May 17, 1954$
$Brown was followed in 1956 by which response from southern members of Congress?$
- A
  $Federal funding for integrated schools$
- B
  $The Southern Manifesto, denouncing the decision and pledging resistance$
  check_circle
- C
  $A constitutional convention to redraft the Fourteenth Amendment$
- D
  $Passage of the Twenty-fourth Amendment$
Why
$Over 100 southern congressmen signed the 1956 Southern Manifesto, calling Brown an abuse of judicial power and pledging to resist integration through "all lawful means" — fueling massive resistance.$
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Sample 5difficulty 3/5
$Brown v. Board of Education (1954)$
- A
  $Granted Black citizens federal voting rights protections, anticipating the 1965 Voting Rights Act$
- B
  $Ruled that 'separate educational facilities are inherently unequal,' overturning Plessy v. Ferguson in schools$
  check_circle
- C
  $Upheld 'separate but equal' as constitutional, reaffirming Plessy v. Ferguson nationwide$
- D
  $Concerned federal income tax assessments on segregated private schools in border states$
Why
$Unanimous decision by Chief Justice Earl Warren; sparked massive resistance and the modern Civil Rights Movement.$
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