Plessy v. Ferguson Reflection

The trial team presented arguments from the side of Plessy and from the side of Ferguson to argue who should have won the case. The case was started because Homer Plessy, an ⅛ African American man, got onto a white-only train. People on the train knew he was part African American and reported him for it and got him arrested. 

The team on the side of Plessy presented many arguments. The main one is the legal argument. The Declaration of Independence says all men are created equal with the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and property. African American's rights need to be protected because if they are not it gets rid of the liberty in America. The 14th Amendment makes it so African Americans need equal protection under the law. Segregation is completely the opposite of equal protection. There was also an economic argument presented. Having an extra train to fit African Americans was spending money that was not necessary to spend. There was also an issue with employment on white trains because African Americans couldn’t work on white trains. Another argument presented was the ethical one. There is a lack of justice in equality in the American legal system at the time. Segregation is completely unnecessary and does more harm than good. Classifying people based on their race is unconstitutional. Plessy would not have even been caught if people on the train didn’t already know who he was. Ethical precedent for civil rights activists was set after this case. 

The team on the side of Ferguson also presented many arguments. Plessy’s decision to sit on the white train deliberately undermined the Louisiana Separate Car Act. The punishment allowed for a $25 fine or jail time. The separate but equal doctrine covers social arguments whereas the 14th amendment only covers legal arguments. The Separate but Equal Document does not conflict with the 13th Amendment because it does not allow or institute slavery. This was an act of civil disobedience. The separation on the trains had no legal inequality. African Americans stayed with their equal legal standing even if segregation was in place. There was also a civil and state rights argument. Segregation is a logical way to organize society. States rights argument says that the 10th amendment allows different states to have their own laws about segregation. States should have the authority to be in charge of their own choices. 

Each team presented good points and showed the court how tricky of a case this was at the time.