African American voting refers to the right of individuals of African descent to participate in the electoral process and cast their votes in political elections. Despite being granted this right by the Fifteenth Amendment, southern states implemented various measures to hinder or restrict African Americans from exercising their voting rights.
Related terms
Poll taxes: A poll tax was a fee imposed on voters as a condition for casting their ballots. This tactic was used in Southern states after Reconstruction as a way to discourage African Americans from voting by making it financially burdensome.
Literacy tests: Literacy tests were exams administered to potential voters that required them to demonstrate reading and writing skills. These tests were often intentionally made difficult and selectively applied against African Americans in order to prevent them from exercising their right to vote.
Grandfather clauses: Grandfather clauses exempted individuals from certain requirements such as literacy tests if they could prove that their ancestors had voted before 1867. This effectively excluded many African Americans who had only recently gained the right to vote through the Fifteenth Amendment since their ancestors were enslaved during that time period.