Problem:
The separate but equal doctrine was the established precedent for over a half century, and it was used to justify the system of Jim Crow laws in the Southern states, as well as countless acts of racial discrimination. In 1954, the Supreme Court struck down the 60-year-old precedent by ruling that separate facilities were inherently unequal, thus ending legalized racial discrimination in public areas. Which of the following explains the difference between the Supreme Court's ruling in 1954 and its original ruling in 1896? By 1954, the Supreme Court had additional court precedent to act upon when it overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine. When the original ruling was made, the Supreme Court was not bound by federal antidiscrimination laws promoting racial equality. The early civil rights movement influenced many senators to only confirm Supreme Court justices who opposed racial discrimination. Moral and societal norms shifted over time, and the Supreme Court found it necessary to redress the flawed precedent. Need Assignment Help?