Which case had a significant effect on the interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment?

The case that had a significant effect on the interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment is Brown v. Board of Education, decided in 1954. This landmark Supreme Court case addressed the issue of racial segregation in public schools and directly tackled the doctrine of "separate but equal" established in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896).

The Court's unanimous decision in Brown v. Board of Education determined that racial segregation in public education was inherently unequal, and therefore unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This ruling effectively overturned earlier precedents that allowed for segregation, marking a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement. The case set a precedent for challenging segregation and discrimination, solidifying the Fourteenth Amendment's role in promoting equality under the law.

Understanding this decision's impact is crucial, as it not only transformed education policy in the United States but also served as an impetus for further legal challenges against racial discrimination, reinforcing the importance of the Fourteenth Amendment in protecting civil rights.