What landmark decision was made in Brown v. Board of Education?

The landmark decision made in Brown v. Board of Education established that segregation in public schools is unconstitutional. This 1954 Supreme Court ruling fundamentally overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896, which allowed states to maintain racially segregated schools as long as the separate facilities were deemed equal. The Brown decision highlighted that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal and thus violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

This ruling was pivotal in the civil rights movement, as it set a legal precedent for challenging segregation and discrimination, supporting the broader cause of equality and the desegregation of public spaces across the United States. The impact of this decision extended beyond just education, influencing various aspects of American society and legislation aimed at reducing racial discrimination.