Plessy v Ferguson established which doctrine?

• A. Desegregation
• B. Separate but equal
• C. Equal protection
• D. One person, one vote

Answer: (B)

The main idea tested here is the legal standard created by Plessy v. Ferguson: the doctrine of “separate but equal.” The Supreme Court held that racial segregation in public facilities did not violate the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause as long as the separate facilities were equal in quality. This effectively legitimized state laws that required separation of races in trains, schools, and other public spaces, which helped maintain the Jim Crow system for decades. The doctrine is the best answer because it names the exact rule the case established. Desegregation would mean ending segregation, which this ruling did not do. While equal protection is the constitutional principle at issue, the decision used it to justify segregation rather than to mandate equality in practice. One person, one vote deals with voting representation and is not related to racial segregation in public accommodations.