VOTING OBSTACLES IN TEXAS

Voting obstacles in Texas

Voting obstacles in Texas

Introduction

There were many obstacles observed in the voting history of Texas but the most crucial and most critical amongst them are the unequal distribution of voting rights among population. America is the country which is the home for plenty of nations. The people of these nations represent different cultural background, races and ethnicities. The most crucial obstacle in the history of Texas occurred when the minorities residing in Texas were not given proper rights to vote (Rodriguez, 2008). Despite of the existence of freedom of speech concept the minorities in Texas could not vote for their desired leader because they faced several hindrances during voting procedure.

Texas, with many other states - particularly in the former Confederacy - the story of the systematic deprivation of blacks, Latinos and poor whites is one of the main barriers that prevent fair electoral process in Texas. In the period after the Civil War, many former Confederate states (and some others) have imposed new restrictions on the vote to deny former slaves. In response, Congress passed several bills and the states ratified the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Rodriguez, 2008). These amendments were known as modifications of civil war to fight against the efforts of Southern elites and their allies to restore the political supremacy of black voters in elections, which were deprived of representation in government.

The secondary stage of civil rights revolution started in March 1965. The main activities and movements of the Civil rights were preceded according to the guidance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and many other activists actively participated in the movement. The core objective of this movement was equal right distribution. The African-American population of United States was given unequal voting rights; hence, they could not elect their desired leader. Therefore, Martin Luther King Jr. and several other activists started this movement in order to receive the rights from the governmental bodies. During this movement the activists who participated in the movement faced several difficulties in different forms. They witnessed a severe beat down and detentions; nevertheless, they continuously strived for their desired goal. The civil rights movement plays an active role in changing the shape of the voting right in Texas; which brought equal right distribution to African-American population along with other minorities residing in Texas.

Discussion and Analysis

13th Amendment to the Constitution made in 1865, abolished slavery. In addition, the 14th (1868) and the 15th Amendment (1870) Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was adopted to ensure that the privileges, immunities and voting rights of all citizens of the United States. People refused to political reconstruction in 1870, accompanied by changes in civil war. Due to the reduction of federal law set forth in the amendments, many southern states passed Jim Crow laws designed to restrict or impede the participation of African-American voters (Rodriguez, 2008). Unlike other states, Texas has eliminated the voting procedure in the black population through the introduction of capitation on their ...