How The U.S. Minority Groups Achieved Suffrage

Voting 1789

Apr 30, 1789

The constittution originally left it up to the state government to decide who should have the rifgt to vote. In 1789 white males that didn't own property, members of certain religious groups, freedmen, Native Americans, slaves, and women were not allowed to vote.

Womens' Voting

Oct 31, 1800

It was common to believe that women should not participate in anything that had to do with the government in the 1800's. In 1848, women held a concection in Seneca Falls, New York, which lead to a national movement in which women would win the right to vote.

womens' Voting

Jul 19, 1848

Women held a convection in Seneca Falls, New York. This lead to national movement to win the right for women to vote in 1848. By 1912, giving women the right to vote gained national recognition.

African Americans

Nov 6, 1860

After the civil war, the states approved the 13th Amendment, which abolishes slavery, the 14th Amendment, which granted full citizenship to African Americans, and the 15th Amendment, which gauranteed the right to vote men regardless of " race, color, or previous condition of servitude."

Native Americans

Jan 17, 1887

The first attempt to grant Native Americans citizenship came in 1887, when congress passed the Dawes Act. The act granted a tract of land and citizenship to those who were willing to give up thier allegiance to their tribes. This law was strongly objected by most tribes.

Women Voting

Jun 22, 1912

Giving women the right to vote gained national recognition in 1912. By 1920, the states ratified the nine-teenth amendment to the constitution, which gave women the right to vote.

Native Americans

Jun 2, 1924

Congressed passed The Indian Citizenship Act as a law in 1924. The law fully recognized Indians of the United States. The law also gave Indians the right to vote in federal elections.

Poll Taxes-Grandfather Clause

Nov 5, 1995

A poll tax is a fee that a person must pay in order to vote. In 1995, the grandfather clause became unconstitutional as decided by the United States Surpreme Court. The grandfather clause states that a person had the right to vote only if his grandfather had the right. Few African Americans qualified because their grandfathers were slaves and had been denied the right to vote.