"[The registrar] brought a big old book out there, and he gave me the sixteenth section of the constitution of Mississippi, . . . I could copy it like it was in the book, but after I got through copying it, he told me to give a reasonable interpretation and tell the meaning of the section I had copied. Well, I flunked out." Source: A History of the United States since 1861

A) The main intent of the literacy test described in the passage was to?
B) encourage reform of the political system
C) encourage Mississippi residents to learn about their state’s legal system
D) prevent African Americans from exercising a basic right
E) enforce the provisions of the United States Constitution

The answer is D) prevent African Americans from exercising a basic right.

Explanation:

The 15th Amendment granting African-American men the right to vote . However, by the late 1870s, discriminatory practices were used to prevent blacks from exercising their right to vote, especially in the South. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 removed the discriminatory practices at the state and local levels.

explanation:

hi

regarding the law, the 15th amendment was specifically designed thinking in the rights of black free men.

even though ratified on february 3, 1870, the promise of the 15th amendment would not be fully applied for a long time.poll taxes and literacy tests would allow southern states disenfranchise african americans. only in 1965 the voting rights for african americans would be actually able to vote in the south.

in 1965, president johnson signed the voting rights act, which aimed to overcome legal barriers that prevented african americans from voting as it was guaranteed by the 15th amendment to the u.s. constitution.