Question

question 2 of 10
why were southerners successful in using literacy tests to keep african
americans from voting?

a. most african americans had not learned to read while they were
slaves.

b. most african americans were afraid to take the tests.

c. only a limited number of tests were given in each voting area.

d. most african americans were too busy working to go to school.

Explanation:

To determine why Southerners were successful in using literacy tests to disenfranchise African Americans, we analyze each option:

• Option A: During slavery, African Americans were systematically denied access to education, including learning to read. Literacy tests required reading/writing skills, so this lack of literacy made the tests effective at barring them from voting.
• Option B: Fear of tests is not the primary reason—literacy (or lack thereof) was the core barrier.
• Option C: The number of tests given per area is irrelevant to why the tests worked (they targeted literacy, not test availability).
• Option D: While work was a factor, the primary cause of illiteracy was the historical denial of education during slavery, not just "being busy" (many were denied education even when not working).

Answer:

A. Most African Americans had not learned to read while they were slaves.