Voting Rights

In 1789, all male property owners could vote. Although women and slaves could not vote, most of the tax paying population could. The voting age varied between different states. In some states free African Americans could vote, but in was not until the 15th amendment in 1870 that black males had guaranteed suffrage. Even with the amendment, they tried to prevent slaves from voting by adding a poll tax. Because slaves almost never had their own money, they did not vote.

The 19th amendment of 1920 allowed women the right to vote. Just four years later, citizenship as well as suffrage was granted to the Native Americans.

In the 1960's the Vietnam war was fought. Any able bodied man over 18 could be drafted. Many did not think it was fair to force somebody to fight in a war when they can't even vote. Because of this, in 1971 the voting age was lowered to 18. This was due to the 26th Amendment. Today, all U.S. citizens 18 or over can vote.