The purpose of "grandfather clauses" in the voting laws of southern states was to

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Grandfather clauses were designed to allow illiterate whites to bypass literacy tests and other voting requirements that were used to disenfranchise African American voters. This was achieved by exempting those whose ancestors had the right to vote before the Civil War, effectively excluding most African Americans whose ancestors were enslaved and thus ineligible to vote.

The Purpose of "Grandfather Clauses" in the Voting Laws of Southern