Change in Voting Laws over the Course of American History

This summery will be about the way voting has changed and evolved throughout American history.

It starts after the revolutionary war, ever since independence from Britain was gained in 1776 the governments struggle to create a representative government was made by only allowing certain citizens to vote. Since the articles of the confederation didn’t mention voting rights, they were left over to the state to create voting laws. It was this way until 1788 when the constitution replaced the articles of confederation, in 1789 only white males, who were taxpayers could mostly vote, they also had to be over the age of 21. Women and non-white races could not vote.
Later, in 1870 post civil war the 15th amendment of the constitution tried to give African American men the privilege to vote. This however failed because of poll taxes and literacy tests, that went against the African Americans, because many did not have the money to pay the poll taxes, and the African American’s had a high illiteracy rate at that time. African Americans were also feared by group like the Ku Klux Klan, and white supremacists, that the African Americans would be harmed if they tried to vote. These poll taxes were banned by the 24 amendment of the constitution, which was passed n 1964. By this time intolerance for blacks had also become less of a treat so more African Americans were allowed to vote for real. The literacy test was also taken away one year later in 1965, with the voting rights of 1965.
After much protest and debate women were given the right to vote in 1920, by means of the 9th amendment. For years later (1924) the vote was also extended to Native Americans, which were also given the right to gain citizenship. These two feats were big steps in America for gender equality, and racial tolerance. The voting age was lowered in 1971 with the 26th amendment giving the right to all citizens 18 years of age and older to vote. The main reason why it was lowed is because the Vietnam War caused speculation on voting age when men could be drafted at 18 years of age, but not vote.
Over the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries voting has changed a lot, and all for the better, making our nation a more equal and free nation. Nowadays the only voting restrictions are that you need to be 18 and over, and a U.S.