Final answer:
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is considered the most impactful of civil rights acts because it secured the essential right to vote for racial minorities, leading to a significant increase in Black voter registration and serving as a foundation for securing other basic rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is often considered the most far-reaching of the five major civil rights acts passed between 1957 and 1968 because protection of the right to vote was seen as essential for the securing of other basic rights. This act, designed to enforce the voting rights guaranteed by the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, secured voting rights for racial minorities, particularly in the South, where discriminatory practices like literacy tests and unfair voting laws were prevalent.
Much more than a symbolic gesture, the immediate and dramatic effects of the Voting Rights Act were demonstrated through the sharp increase in Black voter registration rates following its passage. The act not only eliminated discriminatory practices like literacy tests but also placed election oversight in the hands of federal officials to ensure fair voting processes. This historical piece of legislation is therefore regarded as the most impactful in advancing civil rights.