What does "Brown v. Board of Education" signify in American history?

The significance of "Brown v. Board of Education" in American history stems from its landmark ruling that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1954, this case challenged the prevailing doctrine established by "Plessy v. Ferguson," which upheld the idea of "separate but equal." The Court's unanimous decision in "Brown" highlighted the inherent inequality of segregated schools and emphasized that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal, thereby violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

This ruling was pivotal in the civil rights movement as it not only addressed educational equality but also provided momentum for broader efforts to dismantle racial segregation and discrimination across various aspects of American society. The decision set a legal precedent that would be used to challenge other forms of racial inequality and played a crucial role in the push towards desegregation, influencing public policies and social attitudes in the subsequent decades.