[CIVIL RIGHTS]. Voting registration examination. [Etowah County, Alabama], n.d.
Sale 1310 - American Historical Ephemera and Photography, Featuring African Americana
Feb 27, 2024
10:00AM ET
Live / Cincinnati
Estimate
$300 -
$400
Sold for $1,080
Sold prices are inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot Description
[CIVIL RIGHTS]. Voting registration examination. [Etowah County, Alabama], n.d.
Approx. 6 x 3 3/8 in. paper examination (creasing, soiling, some minor chipping to edges and corners). Printed "Examination in U. S. History" with 6 questions or prompts listed and instructions to "Omit one; five questions required." Questions/prompts include: "Name three noted explorer, giving their nationality;" "By whom and for what purpose were the following settlements made: (a) Virginia, (b) Georgia, (c) New York, (d) Pennsylvania, (e) Maryland;" "Explain the Monroe Doctrine;" and "How did the United States come into possession of the following: (a) Florida, (b) The Hawaiian Islands, (c) Porto [sic] Rico, (d) The Philippine Islands, (e) Alaska?"
Once the 15th Amendment was ratified and African Americans won the right to vote, many states began introducing literacy tests as a safeguard to keep certain people from actually casting a ballot. These tests, along with other obstacles, disproportionately affected poor African Americans in the South with minimal literacy skills. These tests took many forms, but some relied on abstract interpretive questions that could be easily rejected for errors. Others required a thorough understanding of local law enforcement. Others still required an in-depth knowledge of U.S. History, like the example featured here. The NAACP voter registration program eventually created sample tests and applications to prepare and educate African Americans before they went to register to vote. These kinds of discriminatory practices continued until the enactment of the
Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibited racial discrimination in voting.
Once the 15th Amendment was ratified and African Americans won the right to vote, many states began introducing literacy tests as a safeguard to keep certain people from actually casting a ballot. These tests, along with other obstacles, disproportionately affected poor African Americans in the South with minimal literacy skills. These tests took many forms, but some relied on abstract interpretive questions that could be easily rejected for errors. Others required a thorough understanding of local law enforcement. Others still required an in-depth knowledge of U.S. History, like the example featured here. The NAACP voter registration program eventually created sample tests and applications to prepare and educate African Americans before they went to register to vote. These kinds of discriminatory practices continued until the enactment of the
Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibited racial discrimination in voting.
Condition Report
Freeman's I Hindman strives to describe historic materials in a manner that is respectful to all communities, providing descriptive contexts for objects where possible. The nature of historical ephemera is such that some material may represent positions, language, values, and stereotypes that are not consistent with the current values and practices at Freeman's I Hindman.
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