The significance of the Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education, decided in 1954, was its landmark ruling that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. This case effectively overturned the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896, which endorsed the doctrine of "separate but equal." By declaring that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal," the Supreme Court catalyzed the Civil Rights Movement, challenging systemic racism and discrimination across all public sectors. The ruling not only transformed the educational landscape but also laid the groundwork for subsequent legal and social advancements in civil rights for African Americans and other marginalized groups in the U.S.