Lesson 13: The Voting Rights Act

Introduction

Important Icon In this lesson, we will take a closer look at the suppression of African American voters during the Civil Rights time-period. Important Icon

 

Focus Questions:

What events made up the Civil Rights movement? 

How did the Civil Rights movement change America? 

What did people and the government do to help create equality?

The Voting Rights Act 

In our previous lesson, we learned about the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act. Today, we will take a closer look at what the Voting Rights Act helped do for African American voters. 

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was put into place to make sure that no citizen was denied the right to vote. It is described as an "act to enforce the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution." It outlawed literacy tests and directed the Attorney General to challenge the use of poll taxes in state and local elections.

 

The Suppression of African American Voters

After the 15th amendment was ratified and before the Voting Rights Act was passed, literacy tests were put in place to prevent African American voters from having a say in elected officials. Many times, these voters struggled to read because they were either denied a fair education or were unable to attend school. This literacy test may seem easy to you and I, but it was a challenge for individuals who struggled to read.


Take a look at a literacy test from Louisiana. If voters could not provide proof that they received an education past the fifth grade, they would have to pass this literacy test BEFORE they were allowed to vote. This test was mostly given to African American voters.

 

 

Assignment

In addition to literacy tests, a poll tax was also required. Take a look at the image below and provide an analysis of the image in the assignment on the next page. 

Go to the next page to complete the Voting Rights Act Assignment

 

Lesson 13- The Voting Rights Act Assignment.pptx

Download Lesson 13- The Voting Rights Act Assignment.pptx

Lesson 13 -The Voting Rights Act Assignment Google

The Voting Rights Act of 1965, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote as guaranteed under the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

   

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