H13

(a) Explain how TWO measures taken by states prior to the 1960s affected voter turnout among African American citizens.

• Literacy tests were used to test African Americans before they voted to prevent them from actually voting. African Americans were unable to learn at a level of their white counterparts because it was illegal in the south to teach African Americans, especially during the Slavery area
• The Grandfather clause was used to prevent African Americans from voting as well. The Grandfather clause is when you do not have to take a literacy test if your grandfather had already voted prior to you. this was unfair to African Americans because their grandfathers were either uneducated, or slaves.

(b) Facing discrimination at the voting booth, many African Americans turned to alternative forms of political participation. Describe TWO alternative forms of participation that helped bring about changes in civil rights policies.

• African Americans turned to civil disobedience to send the message that discrimination was not okay. They used organized sit-ins, protests, and race riots to show that they were not going to be quiet about this issue.  
• The NAACP was created in response to the discrimination at the polls.  

(c) Choose ONE of the forms of participation you described above and explain why it was effective in changing civil rights policies. 

• The NAACP was created in 1909 for the advancement of African Americans. The NAACP was a voice for many African Americans to speak out against oppression at the polls. Their guidance for the African American community lasts even through today by speaking against people or corporations who are racist or oppressive against African Americans.