Literacy tests for voting?

Question

Hey everyone,
I'm a high school student and my history teacher has informed us that he will give us a literacy test that is just like the ones that people had to take in the 19th century. He told us that if anyone passed, they would recieve a prize, but he also said that in his 10 years of teaching no one has passed. I'm determined to be the first


So my question:
What do I need to study? I know that I need to basically know the federal constitution from top to bottum, as well as state constitutions. Will questions about the state constitution be about the state that the test was given in, or all states? Is there anything else?

Yes, I realize that this is a dumb project, and yes, I realize that none of you were around to take them, but if anyone else has had any experience at all, I would really appreciate it.

Answer 1

study hard

Answer 2

You can't pass and here's why no one has or ever will, he's teaching you a lesson about American history & the "Literacy" tests faced by African Americans in the south that deprived them of thier vote, the questions will be of his own making citing the most arcane subjects like bi lines in tax codes, there is simply too much information out there that is NOT common or study type knowledge that can be acquired by anyone to pass this type of test, this is why the literacy tests were banned and why the Federal Elections Commision still holds swy over certain southern states 40 years after civil rights legislation was passed herre in the great U.S.A. soory to burst you're bubble but I assure you the knowledge needed is so arcane you won't be able to track it down

Answer 3

A true literacy test should only test whether you are capable of reading. In such a case, there is no need to study, based on your submission here. If they are JUST like the ones of the 19th century, you very well may have no chance of passing, as stated in a state department web site:

"The examination was often blatantly unfair. It might require an applicant to write out a passage from the Constitution as dictated by the County Registrar -- clearly for white applicants, mumbled for blacks."

"In Alabama, for instance, the decision whether an applicant passed or failed was made in secret, and there was no method for challenging a Board of Registrars that passed as "qualified" all white Applicants and no blacks."

Based on those examples, you can't pass because he won't let you!

Answer 4

I don't know what state you are in, but I found a copy of the Alabama test. I hope it helps.

http://www.crmvet.org/info/lithome.htm
http://kpearson.project.tcnj.edu/interactive/imm_files/test.html

Search on "vote literacy test" (without the quotes, of course) and you'll get a lot of pages to review.

Good luck!

Answer 5

i imagine the biggest argument hostile to it will be that shall we honestly exclude over 50% of our inhabitants from balloting. even as it feels like a competent theory, this u . s . replaced into depending on the inspiration that absolutely everyone has a voice and the chance to vote and that i don't think of we could continually ever take that proper faraway from every person, no count number how stupid they are. Cheers :)

Answer 6

This test was circulating on the Internet a few years ago. A friend sent it to me; but i don't have it anymore. It was basic knowledge of our country's history and government, a few simple science and math questions as I recall. It looked simple enough but as your teacher points out you will be surprised at what you don't know. Good Luck and take it for what it is and learn from it. Never fear failure, Fear the unwillingness to learn.

Answer 7

All American citizens 18 years and older have the right to vote, regardless of the level of their incompetence.

Answer 8

You should study whatever is required to be a naturalized citizen.

Immigration testing is much more complex.

Answer 9

i ever heard of this test. it couldn't be in your curriculum sound like somthing this teacher made up