Final answer:
After the Voting Rights Act of 1965, African Americans and women were able to vote in large numbers, overcoming earlier barriers such as literacy tests and poll taxes.
Step-by-step explanation:
African Americans and women saw a significant increase in their ability to vote in considerable numbers after a series of legislative acts and amendments were passed. While the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920 granted women—including black women—the legal right to vote, discriminatory practices such as poll taxes and literacy tests continued to obstruct their participation. It was the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965, signed by President Lyndon Johnson, which effectively outlawed such discriminatory measures and enabled African Americans, as well as women, to vote in large numbers across all states. Voter turnout among these groups has continued to increase, reaching new heights in recent elections.