The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a landmark piece of legislation passed during the civil rights movement in the United States. It aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote as guaranteed by the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on August 6, 1965, following years of protest, activism, and struggle by civil rights leaders and activists. It outlawed discriminatory voting practices, such as literacy tests and poll taxes, that had been used to disenfranchise African Americans and other minority groups.

The Voting Rights Act provided federal oversight of elections in states with a history of racial discrimination in voting, particularly in the South. Section 5 of the Act required these states to obtain federal approval, or "preclearance," before making any changes to their voting laws or practices. This provision was crucial in ensuring that new barriers to voting were not enacted.

The Act significantly increased African American voter registration and participation, leading to greater political representation and empowerment for Black communities. It was a major step forward in the ongoing struggle for civil rights and equal access to the democratic process in the United States.

In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act in the case of Shelby County v. Holder, which weakened federal oversight of voting laws in certain states. This decision has sparked renewed efforts to protect voting rights and combat voter suppression, particularly in communities of color.