1. Voting 15 th Amendment and Civil Rights in the 1960”s

2. 15 th Amendment  The right to vote can not be denied any citizen of the United States because of race, color or previous condition of servitude  Must be enforced

3. Voting prevented  Threat of Violence  Withholding credit or opportunities  Literacy tests  Poll taxes  Gerrymandering- Drawing electoral districts to limit the strength of a particular group  (White Primaries) Only party members allowed to vote in primaries (private group and blacks were excluded)

4. Court rulings  Outlawed gerrymandering for purpose of racial discrimination  Courts only acted when suits were filed

5. Civil rights legislation Acts of 1957 and 1960-  Acts of 1957-Created commission of Civil Rights-inquire into claims of voter discrimination-gave Att General power seek court orders  Civil rights act of1960-appointment of federal voting referees

6. Civil rights act of 1964  Outlaws discrimination jobs, voter registration or literacy requirements used unfairly  Use of injunction or (court order) forcing or restraining an action

7. Voting rights act of 1965  Applied to all elections nationwide  Temporary but extended to 2031  Eliminated state poll taxes and literacy tests  Voting examiners  Preclearance of voting laws by Department of Justice

8. Challenges  Polling locations  Boundaries of districts  Deadlines of election process  Shift to at large elections from district/precinct/ward  Candidate qualifications

9. Amendment of 1970  Expanded time frame and States needing examiners and those not

10. 1960’s Struggle for equality and voting rights in America http://www.learn360.com/ShowVideo.aspx? ID=226899