Final answer:
In the 1990s, sentencing laws changed significantly: 'Three Strikes Laws' enforced life sentences for repeat offenders, the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act added severe penalties, and crack vs. cocaine sentencing disparities targeted poorer communities. Historical voting barriers for Black Americans included literacy tests, poll taxes, Jim Crow laws, and felony disenfranchisement policies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Changes to Sentencing Laws in the 1990s
The 1990s saw significant shifts in sentencing laws that impacted the length of sentences, particularly for drug crimes, leading to mass incarceration and the war on drugs. The following are three notable changes:
- Three Strikes Laws: Imposed life sentences on individuals with three felony convictions, even for nonviolent offenses.
- 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act: Added new penalties, expanded the number of crimes punishable by death, and scaled back parole.
- Disparate Sentencing for Crack vs. Cocaine: Created harsher penalties for crack possession, predominantly affecting poorer Black and Hispanic communities.
Historical Barriers to Voting for Black Americans
There have been several historical barriers to voting for Black Americans:
- Literacy tests and poll taxes, implemented to suppress the Black vote post-Civil War.
- Jim Crow laws, which enforced racial segregation and voting restrictions.
- Felony disenfranchisement, which has continued to affect Black Americans disproportionally, as seen with policies like the one in Florida.
Beyond the loss of voting rights, mass incarceration had additional effects, such as inhibiting income generation, fostering a cycle of poverty, and challenging reintegration into society and the workforce due to the stigma of felony convictions.