College

Which of the following lines from the Brown v. Board of Education majority opinion best shows how the Fourteenth Amendment was used to support the reasoning in the decision?

A. "It is true that public school education at the time of the Amendment had advanced further in the North, but the effect of the Amendment on Northern States was generally ignored in the congressional debates."

B. "As a consequence, it is not surprising that there should be so little in the history of the Fourteenth Amendment relating to its intended effect on public education."

C. "Whatever may have been the extent of psychological knowledge at the time of Plessy v. Ferguson, this finding is amply supported by modern authority. Any language in Plessy v. Ferguson contrary to this finding is rejected."

D. "Therefore, we hold that the plaintiffs and others similarly situated for whom the actions have been brought are, by reason of the segregation complained of, deprived of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment."

Answer :

Final answer:

The line from the Brown v. Board of Education opinion that best uses the Fourteenth Amendment states that plaintiffs were deprived of equal protection due to segregation. This highlights the ruling's rejection of the separate but equal doctrine. The decision was crucial in advancing civil rights and ending public school segregation.


Explanation:

Understanding Brown v. Board of Education

The question focuses on identifying the line from the Brown v. Board of Education majority opinion that best illustrates the use of the Fourteenth Amendment in the court's reasoning. The correct choice is:

"Therefore, we hold that the plaintiffs and others similarly situated for whom the actions have been brought are, by reason of the segregation complained of, deprived of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment."

This line specifically highlights that the court found segregation in public schools to be a violation of the equal protection rights provided by the Fourteenth Amendment. The significance of this decision lies in its rejection of the "separate but equal" doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson, thereby reinforcing the principle that all citizens are entitled to equal protection under the law.

This ruling was pivotal in the fight against racial segregation and has had lasting implications for civil rights in the United States.


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