Question

Read the passage.

The first civil rights legislation since Reconstruction was signed by President Eisenhower in 1957.

"No person, whether acting under color of law or otherwise, shall intimidate, threaten, coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce any other person for the purpose of interfering with the right of such other person to vote or to vote as he may choose, or of causing such other person to vote for, or not to vote for, any candidate [for national office] . . . ."
–Civil Rights Act of 1957

Based on the passage, what inference can be made about why President Eisenhower supported the Civil Rights Act of 1957?
He wanted to protect the rights of minority voters.
He wanted to ensure that all people had the right to run for political office.
He wanted to stop voters from breaking the law.
He wanted to manipulate the election process so only certain candidates were elected.

Answer 1

He wanted to protect the rights of minority voters.

The law bars intimidation or coercion that interferes with a person's right to vote, so supporting it shows a desire to safeguard voters’ ability to cast ballots freely (especially historically disenfranchised groups).