Question
Poll taxes and literacy tests had what effects on voting?
They ensured that voters knew current events.
They provided extra voting security.
They frequently impeded African-American voting.
They ensured that voters knew current events.
They provided extra voting security.
They frequently impeded African-American voting.
Ask by Mcdonald Fernandez. in the United States
Mar 28,2025
Upstudy AI Solution
Tutor-Verified Answer
Answer
Poll taxes and literacy tests primarily hindered African-American voting by creating significant barriers and restrictions.
Solution
Poll taxes and literacy tests were measures implemented primarily in the Southern United States during the Jim Crow era. Their effects on voting were significant and largely negative, particularly for African-American voters.
-
They ensured that voters knew current events.
- This statement is misleading. While literacy tests were ostensibly designed to ensure that voters could read and understand the ballot, in practice, they were often used to disenfranchise those who were less educated, particularly African-Americans and poor whites.
-
They provided extra voting security.
- This statement is also misleading. The intention behind these measures was not to provide security but rather to restrict access to voting. They were tools of voter suppression rather than security.
-
They frequently impeded African-American voting.
- This statement is accurate. Poll taxes and literacy tests were used to systematically disenfranchise African-American voters and many poor white voters. These measures created significant barriers to voting, leading to a dramatic decrease in voter registration and participation among African-Americans.
In summary, the most accurate effect of poll taxes and literacy tests on voting is that they frequently impeded African-American voting.
Answered by UpStudy AI and reviewed by a Professional Tutor
Like
error msg
Explain 
Simplify this solution Mind Expander
Poll taxes and literacy tests were often used as tools to disenfranchise African American voters, especially in the southern United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These requirements effectively created barriers that many Black citizens could not overcome due to economic hardship or unequal access to education. Despite these obstacles, these measures were often justified under the guise of “ensuring informed voters.”
These discriminatory practices led to widespread protests and movements advocating for voting rights, culminating in significant legislation like the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This landmark act aimed to eliminate such barriers and enforce the voting rights guaranteed by the 14th and 15th Amendments, resulting in a major shift towards increased voter registration and participation among African Americans.
