Why was the Voting Rights Act of 1965 necessary? Select all that apply.
(1 point)
Responses
Each citizen must be ruled by the same laws.
Each citizen must be ruled by the same laws.
Each citizen must be able to participate in government.
Each citizen must be able to participate in government.
Each citizen must have the protections of the Bill of Rights.
Each citizen must have the protections of the Bill of Rights.
Each citizen must have equal voting power in federal elections.
Each citizen must have equal voting power in federal elections.
Each citizen must complete a test or pay a tax to be registered to vote
- Each citizen must be able to participate in government
- Each citizen must have equal voting power in federal elections
The correct responses are:
- Each citizen must be able to participate in government.
- Each citizen must have equal voting power in federal elections.
- Each citizen must have the protections of the Bill of Rights.
The correct responses for the question are:
- Each citizen must be able to participate in government.
- Each citizen must have equal voting power in federal elections.
To understand why the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was necessary, we need to take a look at the historical context. During the 1960s, racial discrimination and voter suppression were rampant in certain areas of the United States, particularly in the southern states. African Americans and other racial minorities faced systemic barriers that hindered their right to vote.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was enacted to address these issues and ensure that all citizens have equal access to vote and participate in the democratic process. It aimed to eliminate discriminatory practices, such as literacy tests, poll taxes, and other tactics used to disenfranchise minority voters. This act provided federal oversight and protection of voting rights, prohibiting any state or local government from implementing laws that would deny the right to vote based on race, color, or membership in a language minority group.
Therefore, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was necessary to guarantee each citizen's ability to participate in government and to ensure that each citizen has equal voting power in federal elections. It sought to eradicate the systemic injustices faced by racial minorities and protect their right to vote without any barriers or discrimination.