Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

To understand Plessy v. Ferguson, we must first understand the era in which it took place. Following the Civil War and the end of slavery, the United States entered the Reconstruction era (1865-1877) . During this time, the federal government sought to integrate formerly enslaved people into society as free citizens. This period saw the ratification of three crucial constitutional amendments: