Voting Rights Act Signed: Racial Barriers Fall
Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law, instantly banning literacy tests and authorizing federal oversight of voter registration in states with a history of discrimination. This action triggered a surge in Black voter registration across the South within months, fundamentally transforming the political landscape and enabling African Americans to elect representatives who reflected their communities.
August 6, 1965
61 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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