This module is for Grades: 9-12 Introduction
Mrs. Nettie Hunt, sitting on steps of Supreme Court, holding newspaper, explaining to her daughter Nikie the meaning of the Supreme Court's decision banning school segregation
Credit: Library of Congress
The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) was founded by Thurgood Marshall in 1940. Between 1940 and 1961, Marshall used the courts to secure the civil rights of African Americans. Many well-known cases were argued by Marshall, including Brown v. Board of Education (1954), which declared racial segregation in schools to be unconstitutional. In this lesson, you will learn how Marshall used the law to ensure the equal protection of all citizens and evaluate the extent to which Marshall’s victory in Brown succeeded in guaranteeing equal treatment for African Americans.
Play the following video to discover how Thurgood Marshall’s experiences at Howard Law School formed and shaped the Legal Defense Fund.
In today’s lesson, you will:
- Explore the racial disparities that existed in education before the Brown decision.
- Describe the arguments made by Thurgood Marshall in Brown v. Board of Education.
- Analyze examples of resistance that occurred as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision in Brown.
Key Vocabulary
Select the arrows to review these key vocabulary terms. Select the Turn button to read the definition for each vocabulary word.
Essential Questions:
Throughout the lesson, you will think and reflect on these essential questions.
- What racial disparities existed in education before the Brown decision?
- How did Thurgood Marshall use the law to ensure the equal protection of all citizens?
- To what extent did Marshall’s legal victory in Brown succeed in guaranteeing equal treatment for African Americans?
