28. Reform, Rebellion, and Reaction, 1960

Chapter Chronology

Quiz for Making Historical Arguments: What Difference Did the Voting Rights Act Make?

Choose the best answer to each question. Click the “submit” button for each question to turn in your work.

Question 28.1

1. Which of the following was a measure included in the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

Mandatory quotas for black officials in state legislatures

Prohibition of literacy tests that had been used to disqualify blacks

Universal and automatic voter registration for all citizens over twenty-one years of age

FBI surveillance of all voting procedures in the southern states

Question 28.2

2. How did representation in government change following the VRA?

Representation of blacks remained low within their local communities.

Black representation in the U.S. Senate increased fivefold.

Black representation increased rapidly in state and local governments.

White officials in the South refused to work with black elected officials.

Question 28.3

3. What impact did Maynard Jackson have as the first black mayor of Atlanta?

He greatly improved education for blacks in Atlanta.

He ended segregation in the city.

He implemented the measures of the VRA.

He increased the number of black workers in city jobs.

Question 28.4

4. According to the authors, what did black officials believe they could accomplish even when whites greatly outnumbered them in state legislatures or on city councils?

They could bring up concerns ignored by whites and gain insider information.

They could make sure local and state governments implemented the VRA.

They could fight corruption in the government.

They could build coalitions with sympathetic white politicians.

Question 28.5

5. What changes have occurred to the VRA in the twenty-first century?

The law was challenged, but the Supreme Court upheld all parts of the VRA.

States have enacted voter ID laws that make voting more difficult.

The VRA was ruled unconstitutional in 2013.