Voting Rights in the U.S.

Voting Rights:

            In 1776, when Americans first declared independence from Great Britain, the state Constitution at the time established voting rights, but only for certain citizens.  Even the new constitution that replaced the articles in 1788 did not allow voting rights to many people in the U.S.

            In 1789 property owners, taxpayers, and some women were the only people who were able to vote in the U.S.  On top of these regulations, most state constitutions required you to be 21 or older as well.  Those who were able to vote were generally white males.

            African American males fought for the right to vote using the 15^th amendment in the late 1800s.  African American males were often rejected the right to vote through poll taxes and literacy tests.  The 24^th amendment in 1964 abolished poll taxes and in 1965 the government got rid of the voting rights act, which abolished the literacy tests.

            In the 1920s the 19^th amendment was made giving voting rights to women thanks to Elizabeth Stanton and Suzan B. Anthony.  In the early 1900s ratifications to the Constitution were made making it so women could vote, and in 1924 these same rights were extended to Native Americans.

            In 1971 the 26^th amendment gave 18 year olds the right to vote.  This happened around the time during the Vietnam War because many people were upset that the government would draft 18 year olds but would not give them the right to vote.

-Cory and Brooke