Name:
Date:
a.
. . . We [the Supreme Court] come then to the question presented: Does segregation of children in public
schools solely on the basis of race, even though the physical facilities and other “tangible” [real] factors
may be equal, deprive the children of the minority group of equal educational opportunities? We believe
that it does. . . .
Source: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 1954
b.
. . . We [the Supreme Court] conclude that, in the field of public education, the doctrine of “separate but
equal” has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently [by nature] unequal. Therefore, we hold
that the plaintiffs [the Brown family] and others similarly situated for whom the actions have been brought
are, by reason of the segregation complained of, deprived of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed
by the Fourteenth Amendment. This disposition [ruling] makes unnecessary any discussion whether such
segregation also violates the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. . . .
Source: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 1954
1
a According to this document, what inequality did African Americans experience?
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b According to this document, what was the Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v. Board of Education of
Topeka?
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Scoring Guide:
Question 1a
Score of 1:
• States the inequality that African Americans experienced as described in this document Examples: African Americans were denied equal educational opportunities; segregation in schools;
unequal
educational opportunities; they did not get the same education as whites; African Americans
were
denied equal opportunities; segregation of children in public schools
Score of 0:
• Incorrect response Examples: tangible factors are equal; children are in a minority group
• Vague response that does not answer the question Examples: treatment; it was bad; schools
• No response Question 1b
Score of 1:
• States the Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka Examples: doctrine of “separate but equal” has no place in education; Brown won; separate
educational
facilities are inherently unequal; no one can be deprived of the equal protection of the laws
guaranteed by the 14th amendment; it is unnecessary to discuss whether segregation
violates the
due process clause of the 14th amendment
Score of 0:
• Incorrect response Examples: schools could be separate but equal; Supreme Court was going to segregate all schools
and make
them equal; segregation violates the due process clause of the 14th amendment
• Vague response that does not answer the question Examples: public education has no place; segregation and the 14th amendment; separate
educational
facilities; due process clause of the 14th amendment
• No response 2
Answer:
3
3
Scoring Guide:
4
Answer:
4
Answer:
2
Answer:
3
5
6