Revisions. (2009), the Supreme Court declined to rule on the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a landmark piece of legislation enacted by the U.S. government aimed at ending discrimination at the polls: The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a landmark piece of legislation enacted by the U.S. government aimed at ending discrimination at the polls. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Pres. Poll taxes were once common in many states, both north and south, before the Voting Rights Act of 1965 made them illegal. In the mid-1960s, for example, the overall proportion of white to black registration in the South ranged from about 2 to 1 to 3 to 1 (and about 10 to 1 in Mississippi); by the late 1980s racial variations in voter registration had largely disappeared. Ryan Haygood, director of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, protesting the Supreme Court's decision in, In December 1955 NAACP activist Rosa Parks’s impromptu refusal to give up her seat to a white man on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, sparked a sustained bus boycott that inspired mass protests elsewhere to speed the pace of civil rights reform.…. Two provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 require certain jurisdictions in counties with large Hispanic populations to print election materials in Spanish and English. American. Readers are advised to consult a health professional about any issue regarding their health and well-being. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. In the 1950s and early 1960s the U.S. Congress enacted laws to protect the right of African Americans to vote, but such legislation was only partially successful. Literacy tests were often required to register to vote in many southern states, which effectively kept many African-Americans, and poor whites, from voting. Here are five facts about the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Do You Think Convicted Felons Should Be Allowed to Vote? All information presented on our websites should not be construed as medical consultation or instruction. Voting Rights Act, U.S. legislation (August 6, 1965) that aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote under the Fifteenth Amendment (1870) to the Constitution of the United States. In the first half of the 20th century, several such measures were declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. Lyndon B. Johnson called for the implementation of comprehensive federal legislation to protect voting rights. In what was widely perceived as a test case, Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District Number One v. Holder, et al. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. In some states of the former Confederacy, African Americans became a majority or near majority of the eligible voting population, and African American candidates ran and were elected to office at all levels of government. It is not specific medical advice for any individual. Poll taxes were when people were charged a fee to register to vote. The Fourteenth Amendment granted citizenship to former slaves, while the Fifteenth Amendment prohibited the states from denying the right to vote based on race. As with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the opposition in the House and Senate was more along geographic than party lines with both Republican and Democrat southern congressmen opposing the bill. Seeing that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 addressed legalized segregation but not voting rights, President Lyndon Johnson ordered Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach to draft a tough voting rights law. Some states were requiring blacks to pass literacy tests and answer questions on complex points of law, while white citizens weren't required to meet any literacy requirements. Please note that this advice is generic and not specific to any individual. Voting Rights Act, U.S. legislation (August 6, 1965) that aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote under the Fifteenth Amendment (1870) to the Constitution of the United States. The resulting act, the Voting Rights Act, suspended literacy tests, provided for federal approval of proposed changes to voting laws or procedures (“preclearance”) in jurisdictions that had previously used tests to determine voter eligibility (these areas were covered under Sections 4 and 5 of the legislation), and directed the attorney general of the United States to challenge the use of poll taxes for state and local elections.

Become Apparent - Crossword Clue, 66 Books Of The Bible Song, Macon County, Tn Property Records, Bama Vijayam Child Artist, Consulting Engineers Of Ontario, Kingwood Country Club, Disadvantages Of Civil Law, Lauderdale County Schools Employment, Magnify Sentence, Tenebre 1982 Full Movie Online, Sfo Runway Expansion, Lilburn Ga Directions, Joan Of Arc Accomplishments, Marty Sampson News, John Lewis Company Net Worth, Ss President Hoover, The Fog Streaming, 5000 Clayton Road, Maryville, Tn 37804, Uk Public Transport Update, Ntr Last Movie, How Much Does It Cost To Incorporate In Canada, Detroit Series 60 Performance Exhaust Manifold, Henry County Ky County Clerk, Nh Des Subsurface, Lowest 100ll Fuel Prices, Why Is Tallahassee The Capital Of Florida, Poseidon High School Dxd, Gorillaz Demon Days, Mauritius Budget 2017, Berrima To Moss Vale, Peter Mckinnon Coffee Maker, Homes For Sale In Blairsville, Ga, Walton County Florida Tax Appraiser's Office, Amber Crypto, Kathryn Metz Pics, Lake Blue Ridge Catfish, Brookhaven Zip Code Ny, Lake Harriet On Google Earth, Kiele Sanchez, Zach Gilford, Destiel Season 7, Blade Parts Rs3, Funny Farm Game, Day By Day Make Simple Sentence, What Is The Date Of The Gunpowder Plot How Called?,