These assessments were used primarily in the American South following the Civil War. They functioned as a barrier to voter registration, requiring potential voters to demonstrate an ability to read and understand complex texts. In practice, the implementation of these tests was discriminatory; they were often applied subjectively by white registrars to disenfranchise African Americans while allowing illiterate white voters to pass. For example, a black applicant might be asked to interpret obscure clauses of the state constitution, while a white applicant might only be asked to read a simple sentence.
The imposition of such measures effectively undermined the Fifteenth Amendment, which granted African American men the right to vote. The tests, alongside poll taxes, grandfather clauses, and outright intimidation, served to maintain white political dominance in the region for several decades. Their existence represents a significant chapter in the struggle for civil rights and voting equality in the United States. The legacy of this discriminatory practice is essential for understanding the complexities of American history and the ongoing pursuit of fair and accessible elections.
