Plessy v. Ferguson

Glossary

• averring asserting
• chattel property
• coolie manual laborer, usually of Chinese descent, who was brought to United States to help build railroads (now considered a racial slur)
• damages monies paid for harm caused
• defendant in error the party that is defending the lower court's ruling
• demurrer contention by the defendant that although the facts put forward by the plaintiff may be true, they do not entitle the plaintiff to prevail in the lawsuit.
• due process the appropriate procedures that are necessary to affect a person's right to life, liberty, or property
• eminent domain the right of a jurisdiction to take property for a public purpose if adequate compensation is paid
• equal protection of the laws the requirement that all persons be provided the same rights under the law and be granted equal treatment by the laws
• immunity exemption
• information a substitute for a grand jury indictment issued directly by a prosecutor
• intermarriage interracial marriage
• liability responsibility for causing harm
• naturalized made a citizen without being born a citizen
• parish in some regions, a political subdivision or county
• peonage a style of forced labor generally associated with Mexico
• petitioner the party filing for relief in court
• plaintiff in error the party that has appealed a lower court's ruling
• prayed asked
• respondent party defending against a suit
• writ of error an order of an appellate court requesting the records of a lower court so the appellate court can examine the record for mistakes that may affect the lower court's judgment
• writ of prohibition an order from a court directing a lower court to refrain from prosecuting a case