Which landmark decision was a pivotal moment for the civil rights movement, leading to the integration of public schools?

The landmark decision that was pivotal for the civil rights movement and led to the integration of public schools is Brown v. Board of Education. In this landmark case, decided in 1954, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. This decision overturned the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896, which upheld the "separate but equal" doctrine.

The Brown ruling recognized that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal, violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This case not only played a crucial role in the desegregation of schools but also served as a catalyst for the broader civil rights movement, inspiring various actions aimed at ending racial discrimination across many areas of American life. Thus, Brown v. Board of Education is foundational in the history of civil rights and the fight for equality in education.