Question

read the excerpt from up from slavery by booker t. washington.
i do not believe that any state should make a law that permits an ignorant and poverty-stricken white man to vote, and prevents a black man in the same condition from voting. such a law is not only unjust, but it will react, as all unjust laws do, in time; for the effect of such a law is to encourage the black man to secure education and property, and at the same time it encourages the white man to remain in ignorance and poverty.
what is the strongest reasoning the author gives to support his claim?
○ laws that keep the poor or uneducated from voting are unjust.
○ laws should not keep black men who are living in poverty or are uneducated from voting.
○ unfair laws can encourage white people to stay uneducated and living in poverty.
○ all laws can lead to unintended consequences and reactions.

Explanation:

The author's core claim is that laws barring similarly situated Black men from voting while allowing white men to vote are wrong. His strongest supporting reasoning is the specific, unequal consequence: the law pushes Black people to gain education/property, while enabling white people to stay ignorant and poor, which is a concrete, targeted effect of the unjust law. Other options either restate the claim, are too narrow, or too general.

Answer:

Unfair laws can encourage White people to stay uneducated and living in poverty.