CramX Logo

Q
QuestionHistory

Which statement best describes Homer Plessy? A. He was shocked when he was arrested for sitting in the whites-only train car. B. He never lived to see how his case was resolved. C. He was only fined for his indiscretion. D. He planned on getting arrested so he could test the law.
12 months agoReport content

Answer

Full Solution Locked

Sign in to view the complete step-by-step solution and unlock all study resources.

Step 1:
Let me solve this step by step:

Step 2:
: Understand the Context

Homer Plessy was a key figure in the landmark civil rights case Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), which challenged racial segregation laws in the United States. This case was a deliberate test of Louisiana's Separate Car Act.

Step 3:
: Analyze the Background

Plessy was a mixed-race man (seven-eighths white, one-eighth Black) who intentionally challenged segregation laws. He was part of a planned legal strategy by civil rights activists to challenge racial discrimination through the court system.

Step 4:
: Evaluate the Options

A. Incorrect - Plessy was not shocked; he deliberately planned his arrest. B. Incorrect - Plessy lived to see the Supreme Court decision. C. Incorrect - He was not simply fined, but arrested and his case went to the Supreme Court. D. Correct - Plessy was specifically chosen by civil rights activists to deliberately test the segregation law by sitting in a whites-only train car, knowing he would be arrested.

Step 5:
: Reasoning

Plessy was part of a carefully orchestrated legal challenge designed to challenge the constitutionality of racial segregation laws. He was working with the Citizens' Committee, a group of Black activists who wanted to challenge the Separate Car Act through the legal system.

Final Answer

He planned on getting arrested so he could test the law.