The **Brown v. Board of Education** case, decided in **1954**, was significant as it declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The Supreme Court’s decision overturned the precedent set by **Plessy v. Ferguson**, which upheld the "separate but equal" doctrine. The ruling emphasized that segregated educational facilities were inherently unequal and violated the **Equal Protection Clause** of the **14th Amendment**. This landmark decision served as a catalyst for the **Civil Rights Movement**, inspiring activism aimed at dismantling segregation and achieving greater equality for African Americans and other marginalized groups.