History of Voting in the United States

1776 North Carolina Constitution

1776

Was made after the Declaration of Independence. This was made to modify the language of the older constitution and make it modern. There have been two constitutions before this. This gives people in North Carolina rights, and sets up the government. This allows us to expand our democracy.

Seneca Falls Convention (1848)

1848

This was the first women's rights convention. They got together to discuss the rights and liberties they should have. This leads to the 19th amendment, which gives them the right to vote. This leads to an expansion in our democracy.

Passage of the 15th Amendment (1870)

1870

The fifteenth amendment prohibits the use of race in determining who can vote. This was made to give African Americans more liberty. This led to racial equality. It allowed us to have more people take part in our democracy.

Passage of the 17th Amendment (1913)

1913

The seventeenth amendment gives the people to vote for senators. It also puts two senators in each state. This was made because state legislatures use to elect the senators. This leads to more democracy in states. Allows the people to take part in the government.

Passage of the 19th Amendment (1920)

1920

This allows every U.S. Citizen to vote in the United States. This was made because women were not allowed to vote. This leads to a bigger democracy. The women can take part in the government and make decisions that they want.

Indian Citizenship Act (1924)

1924

This act granted full U.S. citizenship to the indigenous peoples of the United States, also known as Indians in this act. This was made because they weren't considered citizens. This could allow them to vote and take part in the government and our democracy and expand it.

Passage of the 23rd Amendment (1961)

1961

The twenty-third amendment allows Congress to vote for representatives in the Electoral College. At first they were not allowed to vote. This leads to a bigger democracy and allows Congress to make more decisions.

Passage of the 24th Amendment (1964)

1964

The twenty-fourth amendment prohibits any poll tax in elections for federal officials. This was made because they had to pay those in national elections. This allows more people to vote without paying. Bigger democracy because people don't have to pay to vote.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

1965

This allows African Americans to vote, which then is the 15th amendment. This leads to more people in our democracy. More people making the decisions they want.

Jim Crow Laws (1965)

1965

State and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern States of America. This leads to us not being segregated and a bigger democracy. It allows us come together as one nation an make choices or decisions together.

Passage of the 26th Amendment (1971)

1971

Allows any U.S. citizen above the age of 18 to vote without any questions. This was made because people in the military who were young wanted to have the chance to vote. This gave more people freedoms and the chance to vote.