Tag: literacy test

Teaching Tips

Old Literacy Test

In honor of election day, I thought I’d share this. It’s the 1965 Alabama Literacy Test that was given to prevent African-Americans from voting. You better know your Constitution if you are going to pass this test! Give it to your students and see how they do! Ask them if they think the average citizen today would be able to pass this test. Aren’t you grateful you don’t have to pass this in order to vote? If you don’t have time to cover it in class, print it out and have students come by and do it after school for extra credit.

 

Photo:  The First Vote by A.R. Waud, Library of Congress – Public Domain
Civil Rights, Civil War & Reconstruction, Reconstruction, Reconstruction to Present

Old Voting Literacy Test

Have you ever wondered if you could pass one of those old literacy tests that they used to prevent certain people from voting?  I found this today and got really excited!  It’s the text of the 1965 Alabama Literacy Test that was given to prevent African-Americans from voting.  Wow, these questions are specific!  You better know your Constitution if you are going to pass this test.  Give it to your students and see how they do!  If you don’t have time to cover it in class, print it out and have students come by and do it after school for extra credit.

 

Photo:  The First Vote by A.R. Waud, Library of Congress – Public Domain