The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark piece of legislation that prohibits racial discrimination in voting. It aimed to eliminate barriers that disenfranchised African American voters, such as literacy tests and poll taxes. The Act is significant in American politics as it enforced the voting rights guaranteed by the 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution, resulting in increased political participation among minority groups. This legislation played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement, reshaping the political landscape and ensuring a more inclusive democracy in the United States.