Essay On Voting Rights
When the Constitution was written, it does not define who is eligible to vote and it allows each state to determine who is eligible and what the qualification would be. Some states used literacy tests, religious tests, and poll taxes to deny certain group to vote. However, The Constitution, in Article VI, clause (paragraph) 3, states that "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States". Throughout America’s history, there were changes to the Constitution when amendments were added to redetermine the limits of voting rights. Each change was made to increase certain rights and decrease inequality, whether it was about race, color, gender, and age. Therefore, after the civil
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The time before civil war, only a few northern states allowed freed slaves to vote and voters were predominantly white men. After the Union’s victory in the Civil War, slavery was abolished and the 15th Amendment was passed in 1870 to allow African Americans to vote. It states, “the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” Race isn’t the only inequality that American faces, there is gender inequality. The Women’s Rights Movement (1848-1920), was the era where female leaders were raised to develope organizations to fight for women’s rights. The 70 years long battle for women’s suffrage was finally over in 1920 when the 19th Amendment was passed. The 19th Amendment granted female citizens the right to vote, stating no one should be denied the right to vote based on sex. In another war period of the American history, a debate sprung up during WWII to lower voting age from 21 to 18 when those who were 18 was conscripted to fight in the Vietnam War, but can not vote. Many student activists adapt the slogan “Old enough to fight, old enough to vote” to fight for their voting rights. The ratification of the 26th Amendment (1970) granted citizens who are 18 or older the right to
The time before civil war, only a few northern states allowed freed slaves to vote and voters were predominantly white men. After the Union’s victory in the Civil War, slavery was abolished and the 15th Amendment was passed in 1870 to allow African Americans to vote. It states, “the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” Race isn’t the only inequality that American faces, there is gender inequality. The Women’s Rights Movement (1848-1920), was the era where female leaders were raised to develope organizations to fight for women’s rights. The 70 years long battle for women’s suffrage was finally over in 1920 when the 19th Amendment was passed. The 19th Amendment granted female citizens the right to vote, stating no one should be denied the right to vote based on sex. In another war period of the American history, a debate sprung up during WWII to lower voting age from 21 to 18 when those who were 18 was conscripted to fight in the Vietnam War, but can not vote. Many student activists adapt the slogan “Old enough to fight, old enough to vote” to fight for their voting rights. The ratification of the 26th Amendment (1970) granted citizens who are 18 or older the right to