<P> Plessy v. Ferguson was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court issued in 1896 . It upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation laws for public facilities as long as the segregated facilities were equal in quality , a doctrine that came to be known as `` separate but equal '' . The decision was handed down by a vote of 7 to 1 , with the majority opinion written by Justice Henry Billings Brown and the lone dissent written by Justice John Marshall Harlan . </P>
what was the supreme court ruling on plessy versus ferguson
upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation laws for public facilities as long as the segregated facilities were equal in quality , a doctrine that came to be known as `` separate but equal ''