Question

"The right of a citizen of the United States to vote for the nomination of candidates for the United States Senate and House of Representatives in a primary which is an integral part of the elective process is a right secured by the Federal Constitution, and this right of the citizen may not be abridged by the State on account of his race or color." - from Smith v. Allwright (1943) What can you conclude from this passage from a decision made by the Supreme Court? A) The end of the "Jim Crow Era" was finally a reality. B) The ideals of the Reconstruction Era would never become a reality. C) The black residents of Southern states would never have full equality. D) The practice of having "white primaries" in the South was unconstitutional

The answer is d

Answer 1

The Supreme Court's decision in Smith v. Allwright declared that 'white primaries' were unconstitutional and that states must adhere to the Constitutional bans on racial discrimination in voting, in accordance with the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments.

Step-by-step explanation:

From the passage of the Supreme Court's decision in Smith v. Allwright, we can conclude that the Supreme Court deemed the 'white primaries' unconstitutional. The Democratic Party of Texas had claimed that because it was a private organization, restrictions against black voting did not violate the Fifteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court disagreed, stating that because primary elections were regulated by the state, they must follow Constitutional provisions banning racial discrimination, as outlined by the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments.

The Fifteenth Amendment states that "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." This amendment aimed to extend voting rights to freedmen after the Civil War, although states found ways to circumvent these protections with literacy tests, poll taxes, and white-only primaries - part of the broader system of Jim Crow laws.

The ruling in Smith v. Allwright was significant in the fight for civil rights, ensuring that African Americans could participate in the democratic process of selecting candidates in primary elections, and thereby challenging the systematic disenfranchisement that had prevailed in the South.

Learn more about Smith v. Allwright here:

Answer 2

D

Step-by-step explanation:

iTS CORRECT I JUST DID IT ON USA TEST PREP