Illiteracy in the United States 1965
Literacy or Illiteracy in the United States? Would you be able to pass the Alabama Literacy Test in 1965? Many states used literacy test to disqualify almost any minority that they saw as unfit to vote. Leaving only the white and wealthy able participate in their version of democracy.
Please take the literacy test and see if you would be eligible to vote in Alabama in 1965.
1965 Alabama Literacy Test
1. Which of the following is a right guaranteed by the Bill of Rights?
_____Public Education
_____Employment
_____Trial by Jury
_____Voting
2. The federal census of population is taken every five years.
_____True _____False
3. If a person is indicted for a crime, name two rights which he has.
________________________ ______________________
4. A U.S. senator elected at the general election in
November takes office the following year on what date?
____________________________________________
5. A President elected at the general election in November takes
office the following year on what date?
_________________________________________
6. Which definition applies to the word “amendment?”
_____Proposed change, as in a Constitution
_____Make of peace between nationals at war
_____A part of the government
7. A person appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court is appointed for a term of
______________________
8. When the Constitution was approved by the original colonies,
how many states had to ratify it in order for it to be in effect? _________________________________________
9. Does enumeration affect the income tax levied on citizens in various states?
___________________________________ __________
10. Person opposed to swearing in an oath may say, instead:
(solemnly) ____________________________________________
11. To serve as President of the United States, a person must have attained:
_____25 years of age
_____35 years of age
_____40 years of age
_____45 years of age
12. What words are required by law to be on all coins and paper currency of the U.S.?
_________________________________________
13. The Supreme Court is the chief lawmaking body of the state.
_____True _____False
14. If a law passed by a state is contrary to provisions of the U.S.
Constitution, which law prevails?
_____________________________________
15. If a vacancy occurs in the U.S. Senate, the state must hold an
election, but meanwhile the place may be filled by a temporary
appointment made by _________________________________\
16. A U.S. senator is elected for a term of _____ years.
17. Appropriation of money for the armed services can be only for a period
limited to _____ years.
18. The chief executive and the administrative offices make up the
___________________branch of government.
19. Who passes laws dealing with piracy?______________________________
20. The number of representatives which a state is entitled to have in the House of
Representatives is based on _______________________________________
21. The Constitution protects an individual against punishments which are
_______________ and _______________________.
22. When a jury has heard and rendered a verdict in a case, and the
judgment on the verdict has become final, the defendant cannot again be
brought to trial for the same cause.
_____True _____False
23. Name two levels of government which can levy taxes: _____________
24. Communisn was the type of government in:
_____U.S.
_____Russia
_____England
25. Cases tried before a court of law are two types, civil and __________.
26. By a majority vote of the members of Congress, the Congress
can change provisions of the Constitution of the U.S.
_____True _____False
27. For security, each state has a right to form a ______________________.
28. The electoral vote for President is counted in the presence of two bodies.
Name them:_________________________________________________
29. If no candidate for President receives a majority of the electoral vote,
who decides who will become President?_________________________
30. Of the original 13 states, the one with the largest representation in the
first Congress was .__________________________________
31. Of which branch of government is the Speaker of the House a part?
_____Executive
_____Legislative
_____Judicial
32. Capital punishment is the giving of a death sentence.
_____True _____False
33. In case the President is unable to perform the duties of his office,
who assumes them?________________________________________
34. “Involuntary servitude” is permitted in the U.S. upon conviction of a crime.
_____True _____False
35. If a state is a party to a case, the Constitution provides that original
jurisdiction shall be in______________________________________
36. Congress passes laws regulating cases which are included in those
over which the U.S. Supreme Court has _____________ jurisdiction.
37. Which of the following is a right guaranteed by the Bill of Rights
of the U.S. Constitution.
_____Public Housing
_____Education
_____Voting
_____Trial by Jury
38. The Legislatures of the states decide how presidential
electors may be chosen.
_____True _____False
39. If it were proposed to join Alabama and Mississippi to form one state,
what groups would have to vote approval in order for this to be done?______________________________________________________
40. The Vice President presides over ___________________________.
41. The Constitution limits the size of the District of Columbia to ________________________________________
42. The only laws which can be passed to apply to an area in a federal
arsenal are those passed by ______________ provided consent for the
purchase of the land is given by the ___________________________.
43. In which document or writing is the “Bill of Rights” found?_______.
44. Of which branch of government is a Supreme Court justice a part?
_____Executive
_____Legislative
_____Judicial
45. If no person receives a majority of the electoral votes, the
Vice President is chosen by the Senate.
_____True _____False
46. Name two things which the states are forbidden to do by the
U.S. Constitution._____________________________
47. If election of the President becomes the duty of the U.S. House
of Representatives and it fails to act, who becomes President and when? ___________________________________________________________
48. How many votes must a person receive in order to become President
if the election is decided by the U.S. House of Representatives? _____
49. How many states were required to approve the original Constitution in
order for it to be in effect? ___________________________________
50. Check the offenses which, if you are convicted of them,
disqualify you for voting:
_____Murder
_____Issuing worthless checks
_____Petty larceny
_____Manufacturing whiskey
51. The Congress decides in what manner states elect presidential electors.
_____True _____False
52. Name two of the purposes of the U.S. Constitution. _________________________________________________
53. Congress is composed of __________________________________.
54. All legislative powers granted in the U.S.
Constitution may legally be used only by
.___________________________________________________
55. The population census is required to be made very _____ years.
56. Impeachments of U.S. officials are tried by ___________________.
57. If an effort to impeach the President of the U.S. is made,
who presides at the trial?________________________________
58. On the impeachment of the chief justice of the Supreme Court of the
U.S., who tries the case? __________________________________
59. Money is coined by order of:
_____U.S. Congress
_____The President’s Cabinet
_____State Legislatures
60. Persons elected to case a state’s vote for U.S. President and
Vice President are called presidential ______________________.
61. Name one power which is exclusively legislative and is
mentioned in one of the parts of the U.S. Constitution above ______.
62. If a person flees from justice into another state,
who has authority to ask for his return?_______________________
63. Whose duty is it to keep Congress informed of the state of the union? ________________________________________________________
64. If the two houses of Congress cannot agree on adjournment,
who sets the time?__________________________________________
65. When presidential electors meet to case ballots for President,
must all electors in a state vote for the same person for President or
can they vote for different persons if they so choose? ___________________________________________________
66. After the presidential electors have voted, to whom do they send the
count of their votes?_________________________________________
67. The power to declare war is vested in ____________________________.
68. Any power and rights not given to the U.S. or prohibited to
the states by the U.S. Constitution are specified as belonging to whom? ______________________________
GOD BLESS DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING FOR ALL HIS WORK TO INSPIRE! BLESSED ARE THE PEACE MAKERS.
Answers to Alabama Literacy Test
1. Trial by Jury only
2. False (every 10 years)
3. Habeas Corpus (immediate presentation of charges); lawyer; speedy trial.
4. January 3
5. January 20
6. Proposed change, as in a Constitution
7. Life (with good behavior)
8. Nine
9. Yes
10. Affirm
11. 35
12. In God We Trust
13. False
14. U.S. Constitution
15. The governor
16. Six
17. Two
18. Executive
19. Congress
20. Population (as determined by census) less untaxed Indians
21. Cruel and unusual
22. True
23. State and local
24. Russia
25. Criminal
26. False
27. Militia
28. House of Representatives, Senate
29. House of Representatives
30. Virginia
31. Legislative
32. True
33. The Vice President
34. True
35. The Supreme Court
36. Co-appellate
37. Trial by Jury
38. True
39. Congress and the legislatures of both states
40. The Senate
41. 10 miles square
42. Congress; state legislatures
43. Constitution
44. Judicial
Literacy or Illiteracy in the United States? Would you be able to pass the Alabama Literacy Test in 1965? Many states used literacy test to disqualify almost any minority that they saw as unfit to vote. Leaving only the white and wealthy able participate in their version of democracy.
Please take the literacy test and see if you would be eligible to vote in Alabama in 1965.
1965 Alabama Literacy Test
1. Which of the following is a right guaranteed by the Bill of Rights?
_____Public Education
_____Employment
_____Trial by Jury
_____Voting
2. The federal census of population is taken every five years.
_____True _____False
3. If a person is indicted for a crime, name two rights which he has.
________________________ ______________________
4. A U.S. senator elected at the general election in
November takes office the following year on what date?
____________________________________________
5. A President elected at the general election in November takes
office the following year on what date?
_________________________________________
6. Which definition applies to the word “amendment?”
_____Proposed change, as in a Constitution
_____Make of peace between nationals at war
_____A part of the government
7. A person appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court is appointed for a term of
______________________
8. When the Constitution was approved by the original colonies,
how many states had to ratify it in order for it to be in effect? _________________________________________
9. Does enumeration affect the income tax levied on citizens in various states?
___________________________________ __________
10. Person opposed to swearing in an oath may say, instead:
(solemnly) ____________________________________________
11. To serve as President of the United States, a person must have attained:
_____25 years of age
_____35 years of age
_____40 years of age
_____45 years of age
12. What words are required by law to be on all coins and paper currency of the U.S.?
_________________________________________
13. The Supreme Court is the chief lawmaking body of the state.
_____True _____False
14. If a law passed by a state is contrary to provisions of the U.S.
Constitution, which law prevails?
_____________________________________
15. If a vacancy occurs in the U.S. Senate, the state must hold an
election, but meanwhile the place may be filled by a temporary
appointment made by _________________________________\
16. A U.S. senator is elected for a term of _____ years.
17. Appropriation of money for the armed services can be only for a period
limited to _____ years.
18. The chief executive and the administrative offices make up the
___________________branch of government.
19. Who passes laws dealing with piracy?______________________________
20. The number of representatives which a state is entitled to have in the House of
Representatives is based on _______________________________________
21. The Constitution protects an individual against punishments which are
_______________ and _______________________.
22. When a jury has heard and rendered a verdict in a case, and the
judgment on the verdict has become final, the defendant cannot again be
brought to trial for the same cause.
_____True _____False
23. Name two levels of government which can levy taxes: _____________
24. Communisn was the type of government in:
_____U.S.
_____Russia
_____England
25. Cases tried before a court of law are two types, civil and __________.
26. By a majority vote of the members of Congress, the Congress
can change provisions of the Constitution of the U.S.
_____True _____False
27. For security, each state has a right to form a ______________________.
28. The electoral vote for President is counted in the presence of two bodies.
Name them:_________________________________________________
29. If no candidate for President receives a majority of the electoral vote,
who decides who will become President?_________________________
30. Of the original 13 states, the one with the largest representation in the
first Congress was .__________________________________
31. Of which branch of government is the Speaker of the House a part?
_____Executive
_____Legislative
_____Judicial
32. Capital punishment is the giving of a death sentence.
_____True _____False
33. In case the President is unable to perform the duties of his office,
who assumes them?________________________________________
34. “Involuntary servitude” is permitted in the U.S. upon conviction of a crime.
_____True _____False
35. If a state is a party to a case, the Constitution provides that original
jurisdiction shall be in______________________________________
36. Congress passes laws regulating cases which are included in those
over which the U.S. Supreme Court has _____________ jurisdiction.
37. Which of the following is a right guaranteed by the Bill of Rights
of the U.S. Constitution.
_____Public Housing
_____Education
_____Voting
_____Trial by Jury
38. The Legislatures of the states decide how presidential
electors may be chosen.
_____True _____False
39. If it were proposed to join Alabama and Mississippi to form one state,
what groups would have to vote approval in order for this to be done?______________________________________________________
40. The Vice President presides over ___________________________.
41. The Constitution limits the size of the District of Columbia to ________________________________________
42. The only laws which can be passed to apply to an area in a federal
arsenal are those passed by ______________ provided consent for the
purchase of the land is given by the ___________________________.
43. In which document or writing is the “Bill of Rights” found?_______.
44. Of which branch of government is a Supreme Court justice a part?
_____Executive
_____Legislative
_____Judicial
45. If no person receives a majority of the electoral votes, the
Vice President is chosen by the Senate.
_____True _____False
46. Name two things which the states are forbidden to do by the
U.S. Constitution._____________________________
47. If election of the President becomes the duty of the U.S. House
of Representatives and it fails to act, who becomes President and when? ___________________________________________________________
48. How many votes must a person receive in order to become President
if the election is decided by the U.S. House of Representatives? _____
49. How many states were required to approve the original Constitution in
order for it to be in effect? ___________________________________
50. Check the offenses which, if you are convicted of them,
disqualify you for voting:
_____Murder
_____Issuing worthless checks
_____Petty larceny
_____Manufacturing whiskey
51. The Congress decides in what manner states elect presidential electors.
_____True _____False
52. Name two of the purposes of the U.S. Constitution. _________________________________________________
53. Congress is composed of __________________________________.
54. All legislative powers granted in the U.S.
Constitution may legally be used only by
.___________________________________________________
55. The population census is required to be made very _____ years.
56. Impeachments of U.S. officials are tried by ___________________.
57. If an effort to impeach the President of the U.S. is made,
who presides at the trial?________________________________
58. On the impeachment of the chief justice of the Supreme Court of the
U.S., who tries the case? __________________________________
59. Money is coined by order of:
_____U.S. Congress
_____The President’s Cabinet
_____State Legislatures
60. Persons elected to case a state’s vote for U.S. President and
Vice President are called presidential ______________________.
61. Name one power which is exclusively legislative and is
mentioned in one of the parts of the U.S. Constitution above ______.
62. If a person flees from justice into another state,
who has authority to ask for his return?_______________________
63. Whose duty is it to keep Congress informed of the state of the union? ________________________________________________________
64. If the two houses of Congress cannot agree on adjournment,
who sets the time?__________________________________________
65. When presidential electors meet to case ballots for President,
must all electors in a state vote for the same person for President or
can they vote for different persons if they so choose? ___________________________________________________
66. After the presidential electors have voted, to whom do they send the
count of their votes?_________________________________________
67. The power to declare war is vested in ____________________________.
68. Any power and rights not given to the U.S. or prohibited to
the states by the U.S. Constitution are specified as belonging to whom? ______________________________
Answers to Alabama Literacy Test
1. Trial by Jury only
2. False (every 10 years)
3. Habeas Corpus (immediate presentation of charges); lawyer; speedy trial.
4. January 3
5. January 20
6. Proposed change, as in a Constitution
7. Life (with good behavior)
8. Nine
9. Yes
10. Affirm
11. 35
12. In God We Trust
13. False
14. U.S. Constitution
15. The governor
16. Six
17. Two
18. Executive
19. Congress
20. Population (as determined by census) less untaxed Indians
21. Cruel and unusual
22. True
23. State and local
24. Russia
25. Criminal
26. False
27. Militia
28. House of Representatives, Senate
29. House of Representatives
30. Virginia
31. Legislative
32. True
33. The Vice President
34. True
35. The Supreme Court
36. Co-appellate
37. Trial by Jury
38. True
39. Congress and the legislatures of both states
40. The Senate
41. 10 miles square
42. Congress; state legislatures
43. Constitution
44. Judicial
45. True
46. Coin money; make treaties
47. The Vice President, until the House acts
48. 26
49. 9
50. Murder
51. False
52. (Preamble statements) “to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the
blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.”
53. House of Representatives and Senate
54. Congress
55. 10
56. The Senate
57. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
58. The Senate
59. The U.S. Congress
60. Electors
61. Pass laws, coin money, declare war
62. The Governor
63. The President
64. The President
65. They can vote for different people
66. Vice President (President of the Senate)
67. Congress
68. The states; the peopleA literacy test, in the context of United States political history, refers to the government practice of testing the literacy of potential citizens at the federal level, and potential voters at the state level. The federal government first employed literacy tests as part of the immigration process in 1917. Southern state legislatures employed literacy tests as part of the voter registration process as early as the late nineteenth century.
Literacy tests, along with poll taxes and extra-legal intimidation,[1], were used to deny suffrage to African-Americans in a number of southern states, while allowing many illiterate whites to vote. This was accomplished by making the test inordinately difficult and allowing test-givers to choose who had to take the test and who did not. Most African-Americans in the south were effectively disenfranchised from the 1890s until the 1960s.
Southern states abandoned the literacy test only when forced to do so by federal legislation in the 1960s. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 provided that literacy tests used as a qualification for voting in federal elections be administered wholly in writing and only to persons who had not completed six years of formal education. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 suspended the use of literacy tests in all states or political subdivisions in which less than 50 percent of voting-age residents were registered as of 1 November 1964 or had voted in the 1964 presidential election. In a series of cases, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the legislation and restricted the use of literacy tests for non-English-speaking citizens. Since the passage of this legislation, black registration in the South has increased dramatically.
