Comparing Brown v. Board of Education and Plessy v. Ferguson

In the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the Supreme Court held that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. In contrast, in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation laws under the doctrine of 'separate but equal'.

Compare and contrast these two Supreme Court cases, focusing on the key facts that influenced the Court’s decision in each case. In your response, discuss how the context and conclusions of each case reflect the shifting perspectives on civil rights in the United States.