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The Twenty-fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1964, abolished poll taxes in federal elections, a significant civil rights victory. It addressed discriminatory practices that disenfranchised African Americans, poor whites, and women, particularly in the South. The amendment's passage was a result of the civil rights movement's push against voter suppression tactics like literacy tests and grandfather clauses, leading to a broader protection of voting rights.
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Poll taxes were first implemented in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Southern states as a means of disenfranchising African American and economically disadvantaged white voters
Impact on African American Voters
Poll taxes disproportionately affected African American voters, making it difficult for them to exercise their right to vote
Impact on Poor White Voters
Poll taxes also had a significant impact on poor white voters, who often could not afford to pay the fee
Impact on Women
Women were also affected by poll taxes, as they were often excluded from voting due to their lack of financial resources
Alongside poll taxes, other methods such as literacy tests, grandfather clauses, and white primaries were used to prevent certain groups from voting
The Southern Bloc of legislators in Congress strongly opposed bills aimed at eliminating poll taxes, often using filibusters to block their passage
The civil rights movement in the 1960s brought attention to the issue of poll taxes and helped shift the political climate towards their elimination
The Twenty-fourth Amendment was proposed by Congress in 1962 and ratified by the necessary number of state legislatures in just over a year
President Lyndon B. Johnson praised the ratification of the Twenty-fourth Amendment as a victory for freedom
Some states tried to implement alternative barriers to voting, but these were later deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court
The Twenty-fourth Amendment set the stage for further legal challenges and reinforced the principle that voting rights should not be dependent on an individual's financial resources
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The ______ decision in ______ ruled state poll taxes unconstitutional, building on the Twenty-fourth Amendment.
Supreme Court's
Harper v. Virginia State Board of Elections
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Origins of Poll Taxes in the US
Started late 19th, early 20th century, mainly in Southern states to circumvent 15th Amendment.
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Disproportionate Impact of Poll Taxes
Affected African Americans and poor whites, as many couldn't afford the voting fee.
