Question 10

Brown v. Board of Education (1954) declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

The case fundamentally changed the legal landscape regarding racial segregation, as it declared that segregation in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

A) upheld the doctrine of 'separate but equal'

This option is incorrect because Brown v. Board of Education explicitly rejected the 'separate but equal' doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson. The Supreme Court found that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.

B) declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional

This option is correct because the Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education stated that racial segregation in public schools was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause, thereby making it unconstitutional.

C) established the right to privacy

This option is incorrect as the case did not address the right to privacy. The right to privacy was later established in different cases, such as Griswold v. Connecticut and Roe v. Wade, but it was not a focus of Brown v. Board of Education.

D) expanded the power of the states over education

This option is incorrect because the ruling in Brown v. Board of Education actually limited the power of states to enforce segregation in public education. The decision aimed to ensure federal oversight to protect civil rights.

E) overturned the Voting Rights Act

This option is incorrect as the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965, over a decade after Brown v. Board of Education. The case did not deal with voting rights but focused solely on the issue of public school segregation.

Conclusion

Brown v. Board of Education is a landmark case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, setting a precedent for future civil rights advancements. The other options fail to accurately represent the ruling's significance or pertain to unrelated legal issues, affirming that B is the only correct choice.