How does the Voting Rights Act of 1965 connect to Black suffrage laws passed after the Civil War?(1 point)

Responses

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits the use of literacy tests by states.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits the use of literacy tests by states.

The Voting Rights Act prohibits a state from preventing someone from voting because of their race.
The Voting Rights Act prohibits a state from preventing someone from voting because of their race.

The Voting Rights Act guarantees equal protection under the laws.
The Voting Rights Act guarantees equal protection under the laws.

The Voting Rights Act prevents states from using the black codes developed after the Civil War.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 connects to Black suffrage laws passed after the Civil War by prohibiting states from using the black codes developed after the Civil War. The black codes were laws that were passed by southern states after the Civil War in an attempt to restrict the rights and freedoms of newly freed Black individuals. These codes included provisions such as literacy tests, poll taxes, and other barriers to voting. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 specifically prohibited the use of literacy tests by states, ensuring that Black individuals would not be denied the right to vote based on their race. Thus, the Act served to dismantle the discriminatory voting practices that were established through the black codes.

The correct response is:

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 connects to the Black suffrage laws passed after the Civil War because it prohibits a state from preventing someone from voting because of their race.

To understand this connection, it is important to have some background knowledge. After the Civil War, the United States went through a period known as Reconstruction. During this time, significant efforts were made to protect the rights of freed African Americans, including their right to vote. However, many Southern states implemented discriminatory laws known as Black codes that aimed to restrict black suffrage. These laws included literacy tests, poll taxes, and other measures that disproportionately targeted African Americans.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was enacted to combat these discriminatory practices and secure voting rights for African Americans. It explicitly prohibits states from denying or abridging the right to vote based on race, color, or membership in a language minority group. This includes banning the use of literacy tests which were often used to disenfranchise black voters. The Act also provides for federal oversight of states with a history of voting discrimination.

By explicitly prohibiting the use of race-based voter suppression tactics, the Voting Rights Act stands as a direct response to the Black suffrage laws passed after the Civil War. Its aim is to ensure equal access to the ballot for all citizens, regardless of their race or ethnicity.

The correct response is:

The Voting Rights Act prevents states from using the black codes developed after the Civil War.