Describe how this law attempted to reconcile the discrepancy between American ideals and public policy.
Responses
A. The NAACP lobbies Congress for passage of a right-to-vote law.
B. Congress passes a law to ensure all people have the right to vote.
C. Large numbers of people march on Washington for the passage of laws.
D. The Supreme Court addresses the Fifteenth Amendment’s constitutionality.
The correct response is D. The Supreme Court addresses the Fifteenth Amendment’s constitutionality.
The law in question attempted to reconcile the discrepancy between American ideals and public policy by addressing the constitutionality of the Fifteenth Amendment. This amendment, ratified in 1870, prohibited the denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. However, various discriminatory practices, such as literacy tests, poll taxes, and intimidation tactics, were used to restrict voting rights for African Americans, particularly in the South.
The Supreme Court played a crucial role in addressing this issue by addressing the constitutionality of these discriminatory practices and upholding the Fifteenth Amendment as a means to ensure equal voting rights for all citizens, regardless of race. By doing so, the Court aimed to bridge the gap between American ideals of equality and fairness and the actual practices that prevented certain individuals from exercising their right to vote.