What landmark Supreme Court case declared that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional?

The landmark Supreme Court case that declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional is Brown v. Board of Education. This 1954 decision was pivotal in the Civil Rights Movement as it challenged and overturned the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson, which upheld the "separate but equal" doctrine. The Court found that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal, and therefore, segregation in public schools deprives minority children of equal protection under the law, as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment.

The significance of this case lies in its role in dismantling legal segregation and providing a foundation for further civil rights advancements. It signaled a change in the Court's approach to civil rights issues, emphasizing that racial discrimination has harmful effects on the psyche of children and undermines the principle of equality. The ruling had far-reaching impacts beyond education, contributing to the momentum of the Civil Rights Movement and inspiring a variety of initiatives aimed at ending racial segregation and discrimination across various sectors of society.