poll-tax
Head-based levy
A poll tax is a fixed tax levied on every adult, regardless of income or property—historically used as a voting requirement in the American South to disenfranchise Black voters and poor whites.
The term also applies to Britain's controversial 1989 "community charge," a flat-rate local tax that sparked widespread protests and contributed to Margaret Thatcher's downfall.
Compulsory government charge
- capitationPer-capita fixed payment
- regressiveReverting to earlier stages
- assessmentFormal evaluation of worth
- revenueBusiness income total
fixed amount · collection · payment · receipt · fee · charge · exemption · evasion
Per-capita fixed payment
- ReconstructionPost-1865 national reunification period
- post-Civil WarAfter the rebellion ended
- Jim Crow eraPeriod of American racial segregation
- tributeOffering of respect
Removal of voting rights
- voter suppressionTactics discouraging ballot access
- literacy testAssessment of reading ability
- grandfather clauseExemption preserving prior status
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
exclusion · discrimination · undemocratic · unjust · inequitable · classist · racist · biased
Racial separation laws
- segregationForced separation by group
- disenfranchisementRemoval of voting rights
- Voting Rights ActLaw against electoral discrimination
- literacy testAssessment of reading ability
grandfather clause · NAACP · March on Washington · Selma · sit-ins · Rosa Parks · MLK · voter registration drives
Right to cast ballots
- franchiseLicensed business operation
- ballotVoting document
- electorateEligible voting body
- voterBallot-casting citizen
registration · election · voting rights · citizenship · democracy · enfranchisement · precinct · voter turnout
levy
Compulsory government charge
- capitationPer-capita fixed payment
- regressiveReverting to earlier stages
- assessmentFormal evaluation of worth
revenue · fixed amount · collection · payment · receipt · fee · charge · exemption · evasion · nonpayment
capitation
Per-capita fixed payment
- ReconstructionPost-1865 national reunification period
- post-Civil WarAfter the rebellion ended
- Jim Crow eraPeriod of American racial segregation
disenfranchisement
Removal of voting rights
- voter suppressionTactics discouraging ballot access
- literacy testAssessment of reading ability
- grandfather clauseExemption preserving prior status
intimidation · exclusion · discrimination · undemocratic · unjust · inequitable · classist · racist · biased · oppressive
Jim Crow
Racial separation laws
- segregationForced separation by group
- disenfranchisementRemoval of voting rights
- Voting Rights ActLaw against electoral discrimination
literacy test · grandfather clause · NAACP · March on Washington · Selma · sit-ins · Rosa Parks · MLK · voter registration drives · civil rights movement
suffrage
Right to cast ballots
- franchiseLicensed business operation
- ballotVoting document
- electorateEligible voting body
voter · registration · election · voting rights · citizenship · democracy · enfranchisement · precinct · voter turnout · civic participation
poll-taxincome tax
Government charge on earnings
progressive tax · wealth tax · property tax · capital gains tax · estate tax
poll-taxuniversal suffrage
All adults may vote
free elections · voting rights · enfranchisement · Voting Rights Act · franchise
poll, tax, polls, polled, polling, pollster, taxes, taxed, taxing