Around 1789, in the beginning years of the United States, voting rights extended to all male taxpayers. These were mostly wealthy Caucasian male land-owners, but in some states free African-Americans were granted the right to vote. Many state constitutions required that the voter be at least 21 years old.
About 80 years later, in 1870, The Fifteenth Amendment stated a U.S. Citizens' right to vote "shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous conditions of servitude." Although this amendment was passed successfully, African Americans were prevented from voting with poll taxes that were not abolished until 1964 by the Twenty-Fourth Amendment. Literacy tests also served as a way of preventing African-Americans from voting, but in 1965 they too were stopped with a separate Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Another huge issue was suffrage for women which was not granted until 1920 with the passing of the 19th amendment. 4 years later, citizenship was extended to Native Americans, including the right to vote.
The Vietnam War brought up many other issues in America, including the voting age. Many argued that if you were old enough to be drafted to the army, you should be granted the right to vote. In 1971, the Twenty-Sixth Amendment was ratified, and to this day anyone who is 18 or older has the right to vote.
by Mingming and Hannah :)
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2 comments:
I like how you added a lot of important dates of when things happened. Try adding a picture to make your posting more appealing. Good job
I really like how you guys did not only focus on voting rights for women only but for like everyone. It was very well done how you guys started with the begin, how only white men could vote until how it is now a day. And again very good with the dates and all the facts.
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