Lack of political voice

Question 1

Topic sentence

Answer 1

Moreover, many historians argue that a lack of political voice was the most important obstacle in preventing black people from achieving civil rights.

Question 1

Evidence 1

Answer 1

During the 1890s, Southern state legislatures introduced income and literacy qualifications which penalised black people and prevented them from achieving the right to vote.

Question 2

Analysis 1

Answer 2

This was an important obstacle to preventing black people from achieving civil rights as these qualifications favoured white people because they were allowed to vote through Grandfather clauses (a man could vote is it was proved that their ancestors could vote before the civil war). White legislatures also manipulated tests to disqualify black people. By 1900 only 3% of Southern Black people could vote.

Question 3

Evidence 2

Answer 3

Additionally, Southern black people were also refused the right to sit of juries.

Question 4

Analysis 2

Answer 4

This was a huge obstacle to preventing black people from achieving civil rights by 1941 because it made it impossible for black people to receive a fair trial in southern states.

Question 5

Counter analysis

Answer 5

However, this wasn’t the case in the North as black people were slowly gaining political influence. For example, black people in the North had more freedom of speech and were able to have more influence on politics as they were concentrating in larger cities.

Question 6

Evaluation

Answer 6

To evaluate, a lack of political voice was a very important obstacle from preventing black people from achieving civil rights by 1941. Income and literacy qualifications drastically reduced the number of black voters, e.g qualifications introduced in Alabama reduced the number of black voters from 180 000 in 1900 to only 3000 in 1902. However, black people wouldn’t have a lack of political voice if it wasn’t for the deep-rooted prejudice and racism in American society up to 1941.