What was the impact of Brown v. Board of Education?

The ruling in Brown v. Board of Education had a profound impact as it declared that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. This landmark decision fundamentally challenged the legal foundation of racial segregation in education, which had been upheld by the earlier Plessy v. Ferguson case that established the "separate but equal" doctrine.

By stating that segregation in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, the Supreme Court not only prohibited racial segregation in educational settings but also set a precedent for further civil rights advancements. This case catalyzed the civil rights movement, inspiring activists to challenge segregation and discrimination in various aspects of society, thereby promoting greater social justice and equality.

The other options do not reflect the essence of the ruling or its wider historical implications. For instance, the assertion of maintaining the "separate but equal" doctrine directly contradicts the core finding of the case, while suggesting the continuation of segregation in schools is inaccurate given that the ruling aimed to dismantle such practices. Additionally, addressing school prayer in public institutions is unrelated to the issues tackled in this case, which focused specifically on educational equality.