Which of the following was part of Black Codes voting requirements?

• A. Universal male suffrage
• B. Must own property, pay poll taxes, pass literacy tests
• C. Age 18 only
• D. Residency in state for 10 years

Answer: (B)

After the Civil War, Southern states used Black Codes to limit the political rights of newly freed African Americans. When it came to voting, these codes often imposed barriers that made it hard for Black men to participate. Requiring property ownership, paying poll taxes, and passing literacy tests are classic examples of these barriers. They were designed to exclude many Black citizens who lacked land, income, or formal schooling, even as the idea of universal suffrage for men was being advanced elsewhere.

In contrast, the other ideas describe rights or rules that aren’t characteristic of Black Codes’ approach to voting. Universal male suffrage would expand voting rights rather than restrict them; an age requirement of 18 would not align with the typical voting rules used to curb Black enfranchisement during that period; and a long residency requirement isn’t a standard feature of Black Codes.