What piece of legislation allowed many states to practice racial segregation? A. The Civil Rights Act B. Brown v. Board of Education C. The Separate But Equal Mandate D. The Emancipation Proclamation

The correct answer is C. The Separate But Equal Mandate.<br /><br />The Separate But Equal Mandate, established by the Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896, allowed for racial segregation in public facilities as long as the separate facilities provided for each race were equal in quality. This legal doctrine provided a justification for many states to maintain segregated schools, transportation, restrooms, and other public facilities, leading to widespread discrimination and inequality based on race. The Separate But Equal Mandate was eventually overturned by the Supreme Court in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954, which declared that segregated public schools were inherently unequal and violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.