Voting Rights Act of 1965By:

Josh Tubridy

Rebecca Ortega

Michael Villagrana

Video of Voting Rights Act of 1965

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQ2j8zSxPgU

History of Voting in America

In 1787 - Only white, male, property owners who were over 21 years in age could vote.

In 1850 - Acts were past that allowed all white men over the age of 21 vote.

In 1870 - The 15th Amendment was passed so that all men over the age of 21 could vote regardless of race or ethnic background.

In 1920 - The 19th Amendment gave women over the age of 21 the right to vote.

Jim Crow Laws Poll Taxes Literacy Tests Grandfather Clause

Voting Act of 1965 The Voting Rights Act of 1965

prohibits the states and their political subdivisions from imposing voting qualifications or prerequisites to voting, or standards, practices, or procedures that deny or curtail the right of a U.S. citizen to vote because of race, color, or membership in a language minority group.

Voting Act (Cont.) Eliminates the “Loopholes” Actually gave minorities the right to vote Gave power to the 15th Amendment Didn’t prohibit poll taxes, but directed the

Attorney General to challenge its use

Harper v. Virginia Sate Board of Elections Annie E. Harper filed a case against Virginia Was dismissed by a district court and she

appealed to the Supreme Court The Supreme Court ruled that Virginia’s poll tax

was unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment Set a precedent against poll taxes until the 24th

Amendment

Resources "The Voting Rights Act of 1965". U.S. National Archives. Retrieved 2008-

10-27. "Voting History." Voting History. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2012.

<http://www.usfca.edu/fac-staff/hancock/pol204/history.htm>. "Voting Rights Act of 1965." West's Encyclopedia of American Law, edition

2. 2008. The Gale Group 27 Oct. 2012. <http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Voting+Rights+Act+of+1965>.

"The Voting Rights Act of 1965." Civil Rights Division Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2012. <http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/vot/intro/intro_b.php>.