In 1–2 sentences, develop an argument to support the concept of judicial restraint in the Supreme Court’s decisions of Plessy v. Ferguson and the concept of judicial activism in the Supreme Court’s decision of Brown v. Board of Education

Answer 1

Judicial restraint in Plessy v. Ferguson reflected the Supreme Court's deference to state laws and societal norms of the time, allowing for the continuation of segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine, which some argue limited the Court's role in challenging entrenched social structures. Conversely, Brown v. Board of Education embodied judicial activism as it demonstrated the Court's willingness to confront and overturn systemic racial discrimination, emphasizing the fundamental principle of equality and recognizing the adverse effects of segregation on African American children, thus reshaping societal norms towards civil rights.