1. Poll Taxes and Fees: Southern states implemented poll taxes, a fee required to be paid before registering to vote. These fees disproportionately affected African Americans, who were often poor and could not afford to pay them.
2. Literacy Tests: Literacy tests were another significant barrier. These tests required potential voters to demonstrate their literacy by reading and interpreting a section of the Constitution or other complex texts. Given the unequal access to education for African Americans, many found it challenging to pass these tests.
3. Grandfather Clauses: Some Southern states enacted grandfather clauses. These clauses exempted from literacy tests and poll taxes individuals whose grandfathers had been eligible to vote before a certain date, usually before the ratification of the 15th Amendment in 1870. This exempted many whites who would have otherwise been subject to these restrictions, while excluding most African Americans.
4. Physical Intimidation and Voter Fraud: African Americans faced physical intimidation and threats from white supremacist groups, including the Ku Klux Klan. These groups used violence, threats, and fraudulent voting practices to prevent African Americans from exercising their voting rights.
5. Gerrymandering: Gerrymandering, the manipulation of electoral district boundaries, was also employed to disenfranchise African Americans. Districts with large African American populations were redrawn to dilute their voting power and reduce the likelihood of electing African American candidates.
6. Limited Representation: The underrepresentation of African Americans in government and decision-making bodies further contributed to their disenfranchisement. With few representatives advocating for their rights, it became more challenging to challenge and overturn discriminatory practices.
As a result of these barriers, African American voter participation declined significantly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, contributing to their diminished political power and influence in society. It was not until the passage of federal civil rights legislation, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965, that significant progress was made in eliminating these barriers and ensuring equal voting rights for African Americans.