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 necessary responses are:
- Each citizen must be able to participate in government.
- Each citizen must have equal voting power in federal elections.
The correct answers to why the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was necessary are:
1. Each citizen must be able to participate in government.
2. Each citizen must have equal voting power in federal elections.
To arrive at these answers, we have to understand the historical context surrounding the need for the Voting Rights Act of 1965. During this time, African Americans faced significant barriers to voting, particularly in the Southern states. These barriers included literacy tests, poll taxes, intimidation, and other discriminatory practices.
The purpose of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was to address and eliminate these barriers, ensuring that all citizens, regardless of their race or ethnicity, could exercise their right to vote. By prohibiting racial discrimination in voting, the Act aimed to guarantee equal participation in the democratic process and ensure that every citizen had an equal say in electing their representatives.
Hence, the correct answers to why the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was necessary are that each citizen must be able to participate in government and each citizen must have equal voting power in federal elections.