What landmark case addressed the legality of racial segregation in schools?

The case that addressed the legality of racial segregation in schools is Brown v. Board of Education. This landmark Supreme Court case, decided in 1954, was pivotal in the fight against racial segregation in public education. The Court unanimously ruled that segregating public schools on the basis of race violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The decision overturned the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson, which allowed for "separate but equal" facilities, and established that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal, thus unconstitutional. This ruling served as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement, propelling forward efforts to dismantle segregation and promote equality in education and other areas of public life.

Thus, Brown v. Board of Education is recognized not only for its legal implications but also for its profound social impact on education and civil rights in the United States.