Voting Rights Act of 1965
Definition
The Voting Rights Act is a landmark piece of federal legislation in the United States that prohibits racial discrimination in voting.
Analogy
Imagine if you wanted to join an exclusive book club but they wouldn't let you because you wear glasses. That's how it was for many people trying to vote before this act was passed. The Voting Rights Act made sure everyone gets an invitation to join the "book club" regardless of their race or color.
Related terms
Poll Taxes: A tax levied on every adult without reference to income or resources, often used as a form of voter suppression prior to these acts.
Literacy Tests: Reading and interpretation tests formerly used in some southern U.S states designed as obstacles for African American voters prior to these acts.
24th Amendment: An amendment that prohibits both Congress and the states from conditioning the right to vote in federal elections on payment.
"Voting Rights Act of 1965" appears in:
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Practice Questions (15)
What is the impact of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
Which social movement was important in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
What did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ensure?
What was the major effect of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 on Congressional behavior?
Which principle, common to both the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965, has been applied repeatedly in congressional policy-making related to individual rights?
What did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 accomplish in governmental terms?
How did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 balance majority rule with protection of minority rights?
What was the main purpose of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
What was the primary purpose of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
What was the main outcome of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
What was a major effect of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 on African American voter registration in the southern states?
How has the Voting Rights Act of 1965 influenced modern voting behavior in the United States?
Why has the Voting Rights Act of 1965 continued to be a relevant piece of legislation in contemporary American politics?
How would the landscape of modern voting rights in the U.S. differ if the Voting Rights Act of 1965 hadn't been passed?
What is the main purpose of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
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