These activities help students focus on key elements that led to success in the Belton v. Gebhart trial.

The Lesson

Have students examine each of the documents provided, piecing together the arguments made in the Brown v. Board case at the state level.

Procedures

1. What are the most significant points made by the plaintiffs in the Amended Complaint? Compare them with the arguments made by plaintiffs in the other Brown cases. How are they the same or different?
   
   
2. Psychologists and other social scientists were called as expert witnesses for the defense in several of the Brown cases including this one. What were the opinions of the defense attorneys concerning these witnesses?
   
   
3. Analyze the statement attributed to the superintendent of the school system that there were no complaints against segregation in Topeka. What is the tactic being used here by the defense?
   
   
4. Carefully read Articles from the U.S. District Court's Finding of Fact. What is the significance of Article VIII? Compare VIII with other articles shown on the page. How does segregated education in Topeka appear from these findings?

   Liza R. Rognas is a librarian and historian at The Evergreen State College Library in Olympia, Washington.
   
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