The Supreme Court

Question 1

How was the Supreme Court a barrier to Civil Rights?

Answer 1

. United States v. Harris 1883 - was a ruling which ruled that the 1875 Civil Rights Act was unconstitutional

. Wilkins v. Mississippi 1898 - ruled that discriminatory voter registration laws were not unconstitutional

. Plessy v. Ferguson 1896 - Separation, it was ruled, did not imply any inferior treatment of people of different race and colour. This ruling enshrined in law “separate but equal”.

Question 2

How was the Supreme Court a promoter of Civil Rights?

Answer 2

. Boynton v. Virginia 1960 - Confirmed that segregation on interstate bus transportation was unconstitutional - this ruling gave rise to the Freedom Rides.

. Griggs v. Duke Power Company 1971 - this ruling protected African Americans from implicit discrimination by firms who insisted on high - school diploma qualifications for jobs which did not really need them.

. Swann v. Charlotte Mecklenberg Board of Education 1971 - this ruling approved plans for enforced desegregation by busing children from white suburbs into inner city areas with more black children.