What was the main effect of literacy tests on voter participation in southern states?

Literacy tests were primarily implemented in southern states as a means to disenfranchise African American voters following the Reconstruction era. These tests were often complex, confusing, and disproportionately targeted to affect individuals with less access to quality education, which was frequently the case for African Americans due to systemic inequities.

The main effect of these tests was to restrict African American participation in the electoral process. By creating barriers to registration and voting, literacy tests effectively suppressed the number of African Americans who could exercise their right to vote. This tactic was part of a broader set of Jim Crow laws aimed at maintaining white supremacy and control over politics in the South.

Understanding the historical context highlights how literacy tests were not intended to facilitate democratic participation but rather to enforce racial segregation and disenfranchisement. Thus, they served as a significant obstacle for African Americans striving for equal representation in government.