What significant barrier did the Voting Rights Act aim to eliminate?

• A. Segregation in schools
• B. Racial discrimination in voting
• C. Employment discrimination
• D. Unequal pay

Answer: (B)

The Voting Rights Act, passed in 1965, specifically targeted and aimed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting. This landmark legislation was a response to the widespread and systemic efforts employed in various states, particularly in the South, to disenfranchise Black voters and other minority groups. Tactics such as literacy tests, poll taxes, and understanding clauses were often used to prevent these individuals from exercising their right to vote.

By prohibiting these discriminatory practices, the Act sought to ensure that all citizens, regardless of race, could participate fully in the electoral process. This included measures such as federal oversight of voter registration processes in jurisdictions with a history of discriminatory practices. The Voting Rights Act is considered a crucial achievement of the Civil Rights Movement, effectively enabling greater political representation and civil engagement among African Americans and other marginalized communities.

The other choices, while significant issues during the Civil Rights Movement, do not align with the primary focus of the Voting Rights Act. Segregation in schools and employment discrimination were addressed through different legislative initiatives, such as Brown v. Board of Education and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, respectively.