What were poll taxes and How were poll taxes used to stop African Americans from voting?

By Karen Hill

Poll taxes were taxes that only blacks were required to pay if they wanted to vote.

The rules on paying these taxes were deliberately confusing and unfair. Poll taxes were used throughout the South as a way to stop African Americans from voting.

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About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.