Sure, I'd be happy to provide you with definitions for these terms in my own words:
1. **Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka:** This landmark U.S. Supreme Court case in 1954 ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. It declared that separate educational facilities for black and white students were inherently unequal, marking a significant step in the civil rights movement.
2. **Common school:** A common school is a type of public school that's open to all children in a community, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status. These schools aim to provide a standardized and equal education to all students.
3. **De facto segregation:** De facto segregation refers to the segregation that occurs by practice or circumstance rather than by law. It happens when racial or ethnic groups are effectively separated in various aspects of life, such as housing patterns or social practices, even in the absence of explicit legal mandates.
4. **De jure segregation:** De jure segregation, on the other hand, is segregation enforced by law. It involves official government policies and laws that mandate the separation of racial or ethnic groups in places like schools or public facilities.
5. **Plessy v. Ferguson:** In this 1896 Supreme Court case, the "separate but equal" doctrine was established, allowing racial segregation as long as facilities for different races were considered equal. This decision upheld segregation in the United States until it was overturned by Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.
I hope these explanations help with your education!