-
Franklin D. Roosevelt passed the Selective Service Act of 1940
FDR decided that the draft age would be lowered to age 18. He passed the Act before the start of WWII and after WWI. Every male in the US would have to sign up and if it came to it they would be drafted into war. This would later be used in the rally cry for voting rights for 18 year olds -
First official draft used in the US
This was the beginning of the Old enough to fight old enough to vote slogan. Many young people fought in World War Two. The draft made it possible to vote for 18 year olds. -
Korean War
The Korean War begins and young people are going into the war. Because the young people were in the war they could use this to say that they had the right to vote too. -
War in Veitnam
This war was the most natorious war we have been in. Most people were against it. The north Veitamese wanted a united Communist government when the south didnt. It was also one of the first times the Draft system was used. It became a rallying cry for 18 year olds "old enough to fight; old enough to vote. -
california Teacher's Association supports 18 voting age
The California Teacher's association passed a resolution supporting lowering the voting age to 18. -
Nixon becomes President
He was the first President that openly voice his opinion. He said that he was in favor of the 18 year old voting rights. He gained reelection in 1972 with historic vote. -
NEA creates Project 18
The NEA teamed up with NAACP, YMCA, and FL-CIO to create the Project 18 which supported the right to vote for 18 year olds. -
Senate votes in favor of the 26th amendment
The senate decided in a 94- 0 vote that 18 year olds should have the right to vote. With both the House and the Senate agreeing on the new amendment it would then go to the state legislatures. -
House voted in Favor of the 18th amendment
The house of Represntatives decided that 18 year olds should have the right to vote. The vote lead in favor 400 to 19. -
26th amendment is passed!
Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years old. That year they had a record number of voters turn out to have a say in their country's leaders and policies. Since then the number of voters has gone down drastically. -
Ratified by the 3/4 of state lesgislatures
This was the last step in making the amendment pass. It passed and 18 year olds will get to vote in the next federal election! -
record voting!
The number of people that voted was the highest it has ever been. Record numbers of voters turned up in favor of Nixon. This was because the 18 year olds could vote now!
