Which significant voter registration act was passed in 1965 that increased Black voter registration?

Study for the USG Legislative Requirements Exam in U.S. and Georgia History and Constitution. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare efficiently for your exam!

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a landmark piece of federal legislation that aimed specifically at overcoming legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote as guaranteed under the 15th Amendment. This act played a crucial role in increasing voter registration among Black citizens, particularly in the South, where discriminatory practices such as literacy tests and poll taxes had been used to disenfranchise them.

The act not only prohibited racial discrimination in voting but also provided for federal oversight of voter registration in areas where such discriminatory practices had been prevalent. With the implementation of the Voting Rights Act, there was a significant surge in African American voter registration and participation, fundamentally altering the political landscape in the United States.

The other acts listed, while significant in their own rights, did not focus specifically on voting rights or voter registration. The Civil Rights Act primarily addressed discrimination in public accommodations and employment, the Fair Housing Act aimed to eliminate discrimination in housing, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Act focused on workplace discrimination. None of these directly addressed the barriers to voting like the Voting Rights Act did.

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