How did the literacy test restrict voting in the 1800s?

In the 1800s, literacy tests were used as a means to restrict voting, particularly targeting African American voters and poor white citizens. These tests often required individuals to read and interpret complex legal documents, which many were unable to do due to systemic educational inequalities. Additionally, the tests were often administered subjectively, allowing officials to unfairly disqualify voters based on arbitrary judgments. As a result, literacy tests effectively disenfranchised large segments of the population, reinforcing racial and socioeconomic barriers to voting.