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Voting Rights Act Of 1965 Dbq Essay

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The outcome of Shelby County v. Holder, a Supreme Court Case in which a district in Alabama appealed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, has resulted in the United States becoming a less democratic state (oyez.com). Democracies are defined as governments that reflect the will of its people, which can be achieved by allowing citizens a voice to express themselves in society. Most democracies are attained by giving each citizen an equal vote (ushistory.org). After the ruling of Shelby County, various states throughout United States, especially in the south, have now had more influence upon creating voting requirements. The ruling of the case has made the United States less democratic as it has influenced many states to narrow their electorate, making it harder for everyone to vote and contribute to society.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was created, by Lyndon B. Johnson, to further enforce the 15th Amendment of the United States. The purpose of the act was to ensure democracy within the United States by giving everyone an equal ability to practice their rights. Throughout the history of the United States, African Americans have been denied of their basic freedoms as citizens. The Voting Rights Act made it harder for states to further deny African-Americans, and other …show more content…

It was set out to become the land of the free and the home of the brave, a land far away from the greedy kings and tyrannical dictators (archives.gov). The US was set to become a democracy, a place where everyone would be heard. In order for a nation to be considered a democracy (ushistory.org), it must properly reflect the views of its people. If only one group of its people have the ability to exercise their beliefs and have a voice in society, the country does not render all of its people’s views and is not a true democracy. Ever since the ruling of Shelby County v. Holder, the US has not been a true

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