1. History of Voting Rights

2. Disenfranchisement The legal removal of the black vote.
Poll Tax. All southern states had one by 1908.
Literacy Tests. 7 of 11 ex-confederate states required it.
Grandfather Clause. Help the whites.
If grandfathers voted prior to 1864, then person was qualified to vote.

3. Early Civil Rights Civil Rights Act of 1957 Civil Rights Act of 1960
Civil Rights Commission created.
Investigate discrimination in voting.
No changes in law but govt begins to see problems with race.
Civil Rights Act of 1960
Federal officials to referee voter registration.
Intended to cut down on voter discrimination.

4. Voting Rights Act of 1965 The 24th Amendment
Suspended Literacy Test in any area where less than 50% of people qualified to vote.
Gave federal officials the power to register voters in states.
Federal officials could also run voting polls.
The 24th Amendment
Eliminated the use of any payment as a condition to vote (poll tax).