Final answer:
The Mississippi campaign and the subsequent violent events at Selma played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and bringing about the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which banned racial discrimination in voting practices, such as literacy tests. However, recent developments post-Shelby County v. Holder have led to newly instituted restrictions that are being legally contested.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Mississippi campaign and the events in Selma were pivotal in shaping public opinion on the need for a federal Voting Rights Act (VRA). Intense racial discrimination and violent opposition to African American voting rights created a climate that necessitated federal intervention. The Mississippi campaign's struggles, along with the violence against civil rights activists, highlighted the extreme measures taken to prevent African Americans from voting, such as literacy tests, poll taxes, and even acts of intimidation and violence. As a result, this climate galvanized support for the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which mandated oversight of elections by federal officials and eliminated discriminatory practices like literacy tests, significantly escalating Black voter registration rates.
Despite the success of the VRA, recent challenges have arisen. The Supreme Court's decision in Shelby County v. Holder (2013) removed the requirement for states with histories of discrimination to receive federal clearance for voting law changes. This led to the reintroduction of laws and policies that could potentially restrict voting rights, such as photo ID requirements and limiting early voting and ballot drop-off locations. These new restrictions are facing legal challenges due to their potential discriminatory impacts.