Lasting Effects of the American Civil War

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I chose this article because it seemed interesting and tied into a current issue. This article was about the legalization of Marijuana, and was related to the American Civil War because, apparently, after the abolition of slavery during the civil war, the law that criminals are unable to vote arose. The article states that fewer black males in the deep south now count less during votes than before the civil war, because during the war, they were counted as 3/5 of a person, and now 30% of them are unable to vote because of the felony law. It also says that, although white males, statistically, should be 50% more likely to be arrested for drug possession, black males get arrested 3.5 times more, thus leading to a high felony rate.