★ AMERICA 250

American History Timeline

1954: Brown v. Board of Education

The Supreme Court rules that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional.

May 17, 1954 · Chapter 7 · Pages 101-102

National Archives judgment document from Brown v. Board of Education
Visual direction: National Archives civil rights document

What Happened

Brown v. Board rejected the doctrine of separate but equal in public education. The decision became a cornerstone of the modern civil rights movement and a test of whether constitutional promises would be enforced in daily life.

Why It Matters

Brown connects law, education, citizenship, and the long struggle to expand democracy.

Worth Knowing

The Court's decision was unanimous.

Where It Fits in the America 250 Book

This story appears in Chapter 7, Pages 101-102, as part of the 160-page landscape collector edition. The book expands timeline moments like this with archival imagery, maps, concise narrative context, and feature spreads designed for browsing and display.

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Brown v Board timelinecivil rights timelineschool desegregation