Poll taxes developed in the late 19th century as
a branch of the Jim Crow laws. Poll taxes were meant to discourage former
slaves from voting by, hence the name, taxing their votes before they can cast
them. Around that time money was tight and former slaves could barely afford to
pay for the shoes on their feet. Thus doing so, (passing the Poll taxes) the
former slaves were at the mercy of the government because it was a win-win
either way for them. They devised a plan that could ruin former slaves
economically.
