Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenberg County

Schools

Background

• The 14th Amendment had passed, but Charlotte-Mecklenberg County Schools were still refusing to desegregate after almost 20 years.

Constitutional Violation

• The 14th amendment as well as the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Ed. decided that schools could not be segregated.

Main Question

• Was the Federal Government allowed to oversee the desegregation of schools?

– Schools are controlled by the states– The school system was not acting

constitutionally

Dates

• Argument on the case began on October 12, 1970

• The case was decided on April 20, 1971

Decision

• The court was in unanimous agreement that the Federal Government could force schools to desegregate.

Impact

• It allowed the Federal Government to establish quotas for desegregation in schools and have consequences for states that did not desegregate.

Works Cited

• http://oyez.org/cases/1970-1979/1970/1970_281