What was the outcome of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

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Prepare for the UCF POS2041 American National Government Exam 3. Study with multiple choice questions and detailed explanations. Pass your exam with confidence!

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a landmark piece of federal legislation in the United States aimed at addressing and prohibiting various forms of racial discrimination in voting. The act primarily focused on outlawing discriminatory voting practices that had been used to disenfranchise African American voters and other minority groups, particularly in the Southern states. It effectively abolished tactics such as literacy tests and other bureaucratic hurdles that were used to suppress the voting rights of minorities.

The provisions of the Voting Rights Act included mechanisms to enforce the voting rights guaranteed by the 14th and 15th Amendments of the Constitution. The act authorized federal oversight and enforcement of voter registration and voting procedures in jurisdictions that had a history of discriminatory practices.

While the act did result in the elimination of literacy tests and led to significant improvements in voter registration and participation among African Americans, its primary and overarching goal was to outlaw the various discriminatory practices that had long been employed to restrict voting rights. This comprehensive approach is what makes the correct answer precisely aligned with the essence of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.