Question

Which of the following is true of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

a. It was unnecessary because the Fifteenth Amendment effectively guaranteed African Americans the right to vote.
b. It has never been applied to any group except southern African Americans.
c. It has been a major instrument for increasing the number of African American and other minority voters.
d. It was declared unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court in Shaw v. Reno.
e. It requires that minority officeholders be elected.

Answer 1

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 has been a crucial tool in increasing the number of African American and other minority voters by enforcing the Fifteenth Amendment and eliminating discriminatory practices like literacy tests. It applies to all eligible minority voters in the U.S. and ensures federal oversight in elections to protect voting rights.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct choice regarding the truth about the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is that it has been a major instrument for increasing the number of African American and other minority voters. The Voting Rights Act was intended to enforce the Fifteenth Amendment, which prohibited states from denying voting rights based on race. Despite the Fifteenth Amendment's passage, African Americans continued to face disenfranchisement through tactics such as literacy tests and poll taxes, which the Voting Rights Act aimed to eliminate. The Act also allowed for federal oversight and intervention in elections, particularly in areas with a history of discrimination, to ensure that the rights of voters were not being infringed. However, the Act's scope is not confined to Southern African Americans—its protections apply to all eligible minority voters across the United States. Furthermore, it does not require that minority officeholders be elected, contrary to one of the choices provided.