Voting Rights
Blacks were denied the right to vote through grandfather clauses, literacy tests, and poll taxes. Widespread disenfranchisement of blacks ended after the passage of the Voting Rights Act.
The Fifteenth Amendment
The 15th Amendment, which grants the right to vote regardless of race or color, was a giant step toward securing black rights after the Civil War. The amendment, however, was vague, and resulted in the use of literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses to disenfranchise blacks. Not until the passage of the Voting Rights Act did blacks finally receive the unhindered right to vote.
The 15th Amendment, which grants the right to vote regardless of race or color, was a giant step toward securing black rights after the Civil War. The amendment, however, was vague, and resulted in the use of literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses to disenfranchise blacks. Not until the passage of the Voting Rights Act did blacks finally receive the unhindered right to vote.
Grandfather Clause
Although blacks were given the right to vote through the Fifteenth Amendment, this right was restricted with the creation of grandfather clauses in state constitutions.
Although blacks were given the right to vote through the Fifteenth Amendment, this right was restricted with the creation of grandfather clauses in state constitutions.
Literacy Tests
Literacy tests disenfranchised southern blacks for nearly one hundred years after given the right to vote through the Fifteenth Amendment. Although patently unfair, these tests passed constitutional scrutiny because blacks were excluded on the basis of literacy and not race.
Literacy tests disenfranchised southern blacks for nearly one hundred years after given the right to vote through the Fifteenth Amendment. Although patently unfair, these tests passed constitutional scrutiny because blacks were excluded on the basis of literacy and not race.
Poll Tax
The poll tax, which was one of the mechanism used by southern states, disenfranchised blacks until it was abolished during the civil rights movement.
The poll tax, which was one of the mechanism used by southern states, disenfranchised blacks until it was abolished during the civil rights movement.
Voting Rights in Selma, Alabama - Bloody Sunday
When Martin Luther King came to Selma, Alabama to lead an assault against discriminatory voter registration practices, it could hardly be predicted that the nation would witness just how brutal segregationists could be. It was this same brutality, however, that led President Johnson and Congress to one conclusion—it was time to pass voting rights legislation.
When Martin Luther King came to Selma, Alabama to lead an assault against discriminatory voter registration practices, it could hardly be predicted that the nation would witness just how brutal segregationists could be. It was this same brutality, however, that led President Johnson and Congress to one conclusion—it was time to pass voting rights legislation.