Literacy Test Disenfranchise African Americans

The United States first began to deal with the issue of voter suppression during the Reconstruction. During Reconstruction freed slaves earned their right to vote and hold office through the fifteenth amendment in 1870. In 1877, Democrats, known as Dixiecrats, began to impose laws that were designed to suppress the African American vote or better known as Jim Crow Laws. The Jim Crow voting laws required the freedmen to pass literacy tests that they were unable to pass because of no formal education because of their status of slaves. Many states created poll taxes, which many poor Americans, white and black, were unable to pay. Many precincts made their voting precincts “white only” so that blacks would have nowhere to cast their votes. The Jim Crow voter suppression tactics were so successful that only three percent of African Americans in the south were registered to vote in 1940. Although African American males were given the right to vote in

Before the Civil War, there were no federal laws to protect voting rights. Only white males had the right to vote. In 1870, the 15th Amendment was established which stated “Specifically that the right to vote shall not be denied or abridged on the basis of race, or previous condition of servitude” (Introduction to Federal Voting Rights Laws). This amendment gives all Americans the right to be a voice of change for the people by electing officials who will make a difference in their communities. Unfortunately, one mistake can cause you to lose this right forever. As stated by Eric H. Holder, JD, US Attorney General, in his Feb. 11, 2014, speech;

“…Jim Crow constitution was held before it went into force, the effects were immediate and profound for back voters as well as white ones, despite Glass’s claims,” stated by the article. Therefore, by the end of 1902 registrars and literacy test had limited 21,000, all coming with a conclusion that 147,000 that were register were eliminated, and three years later the new poll tax cut that number in half. Lastly, in 1915 the 15th Amendment struck down the grandfather clause with the help of the Supreme Court of the United States, and soon it also abolished state and local poll taxes in 1966. “The Voting Rights Act of 1965 eliminated literacy test and required Virginia and other states to seek approval from a federal court or the U.S attorney general before implementing changes to its election

It states that “The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for president or vice president, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative of Congress shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay poll tax or other tax”

The only way any men were to be exempted from this clause was if his father or grandfather were to have voted previous to 1867. Being that African Americans’ ancestors were slaves, they were not able to be exempted thus they had to pass the tests, pay the tax, and pass any other requirements thrown at them. It was not until June 21, 1915 that the court declared it unlawful, leaving way for African Americans to vote.

In 1965 President Johnson signed over a bill that soon became the Voting Rights Act of 1965, this act put an end to voting discrimination in federal, state, and local elections. Due to the point that African Americans were always looked upon as the inferior race, many thought their opinions did not matter when it came to voting. Voting was extremely important because it allowed people to politically participate in society. Additionally, because of poverty and oppression, blacks did not get the best education leaving them with a higher rate of illiteracy. As a result, election officials often took advantage of that by forcing black voters to take literacy test in order to be eligible to vote, knowing that the majority would not pass. “The civil rights movement created space for political leaders to pass legislation, and the movement continued pushing forward. Direct action continued through the summer of 1964, as student run organizations like SNCC and CORE (the Congress of Racial Equality) helped with the Freedom Summer in Mississippi, a drive to register African Americans in a state with an ugly history of discrimination” (Reading #15, Page 12). This quote essentially expresses that the civil rights movement was a primary source when it came to not only helping blacks get registered to vote but,

From 1890 to 1906, all the southern states established laws to keep blacks away from the voting polls. Because the Fifteen amendments prohibit racial discrimination, the southern states created laws that seemed to be color-blinded, to prevent blacks from voting. Among those laws was the poll tax, which was a fee that people had to pay to vote in elections. The literacy test stated that futures voters needed to demonstrate their understanding of the state constitution. Last the grandfather clause, used by six

On June 25, 2013, the Supreme Court made its final decision on the Shelby County, Alabama v Holder, deeming Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, passed by Congress in 1965 and extended several times, unconstitutional. Section 5, although not being struck down, became insignificant without its triggering formula, Section 4, to determine the coverage. This Supreme Court decision took away the key parts of the Voting Rights Act, which was an important method for the federal government to oversee and enforce the enfranchisement of African-Americans in some states. While justifying their decision, the Court mentioned that Section 4 only applied to specific states and it was against the idea of equal sovereignty of all states in the Constitution. What is more, the Congress’ justification of these unequal actions towards those states in 2006, was based on 40-year old data showing that it was still an exceptional condition, which cannot reflect the current situations and needs of the country.

In today’s American society, the right to vote is often taken for granted but it is important to remember that this basic right was not always granted to everyone. In years past, African Americans and women faced many obstacles when trying to obtain the right to vote. The Civil War, otherwise known as the War Between the States, brought about many changes within the United States of America. One of the most significant changes resulting from this time of war was the expansion of voting rights to more citizens. The Fifteenth Amendment, which was passed after the Civil War, forbids the federal and state governments from denying a citizen of the United States the right to vote based on that citizen's "race, color, or previous condition of

In the late 19th century and early 20th century, African Americans were suffering under ‘Jim Crow’ laws in the South. This law meant that there were segregated restaurants, hotels, hospitals, rail roads, schools and even hospitals. Black Americans were also ‘effectively’ stopped from voting as a result of the introduction of a law which required a literacy test and a poll tax. This meant that you had to pay and be able to read in order to have been able to vote. White Americans were exempted from either one of the tests by the “grandfather clause”. This clause meant that you were able to vote if you could show any evidence of the fact that your grandfather had also voted. As it was very difficult for many black Americans to show any evidence of their ancestors, to have the ability to

Legally, the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment just a few years after the close of the Civil War, African American men had the right to vote according to the United States Constitution. However, racial relations in the south had deteriorated so greatly that even such constitutionally-protected elements of their lives were unable to survive. Whites passed a number of laws designed to disenfranchise African American men, knowing that without the right to vote, the voices of newly-freed slaves would not be heard. These laws included such measures as literacy tests, poll taxes, property qualifications, and so-called “grandfather” clauses that denied an individual the right to vote if their grandfather did not vote himself. Race relations in the south had deteriorated so rapidly that even something as basic as voting, something that was to be provided to African American men according to the United States Constitution, was denied them (“The state…”, 2011).

States have utilized their discretion over the time, place, and manner to alienate large segments of the voting population in the pass. From the Jim Crow era literacy tests and poll taxes, to modern-day voter ID laws, representatives have attempted to disenfranchise voters at every turn. Thought the Voting Rights Act of 1965 would have ideally rid America of these obstacles by this point, vestiges of the manipulation remain. The passage of years has brought a large degree of uniformity to election laws. For example, all states except Louisiana permit election by plurality in general elections. But several key distinctions prevail, and the desire for federalism here has created issues with suffrage. Voter ID laws are perhaps the most visible

The goal of the 1957 Civil Rights Act was to ensure that all Americans could exercise their right to vote. By 1957, only about 20% of African Americans were registered to vote. Despite comprising the majority population in numerous counties and Congressional districts in the South, most blacks had been effectively disfranchised by discriminatory voter registration rules and laws in those states since the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Civil rights organizations had collected evidence of discriminatory practices, such as administration of literacy and comprehension tests, poll taxes and other means. While the states had the right to establish rules for voter registration and elections, the federal government found an oversight role in ensuring

The Voting Rights Act 42 U.S.C. §§ 1973 et seq., decision is important regarding the laws governing voting rights and their relationship to minority voters. Its implication and effects however does not end within the legal realms and dimensions but continues through to society, culture, and human rights. The Voting Rights Act initially established in 1965 under Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration protected “racial minorities” from biased voting practices. It was a huge stride in the civil rights movement and a victory over harmful, archaic, and biased voting practices and traditions.

One of the first changes in voting rights began with issuing literacy tests to limited individuals in hopes to earn a chance to vote. Specifically, the 1965 Alabama Literacy Test was given to African Americans before they were declared eligible to vote. This practice was intended to keep African Americans from having any input when it came to voting. The idea of this literacy test was to give African Americans the chance to earn the right to vote but, would not guarantee that right. The 1965 Alabama Literacy Test was part of voter discrimination by only requiring a certain group of individuals participate in taking it. The 1965 Alabama Literacy Test was intended to be challenging to