The Evolution of American Voting Rights

By JTHaga

  • The U.S. Constitution

    The Constitution grants the states the power to set voting rights. States generally limited this to tax-payers, and land owners, most of which were white males (about 6% of population).

  • The Naturalization Act of 1790

    Allows whit men born outside of the U.S. to become citizens.Since states made most of the voting rights, many men were not immediately granted the right to vote.
  • Period: to

    Black Men lose voting rights.

    Many black men lost voting rights in many Northern states.

  • The 14th Amendment

    The 14th Amendment, grants full citizenship including voting rights to all men born or naturalized in the United States

  • The 15th Amendment

    Eliminated racial barriers to voting. However many states implemented things such as poll taxes, and literacy tests to get around this.

  • The 19th Amendment

    The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote nationwide.

  • Initiative 40 is passed

    Washing State voters passed Initiative 40, which got rid of poll taxes

  • The Indian Citizenship Act

    Granted Native Americans citizenship, and voting rights.

  • 24th Amendment

    Eliminated poll taxes nationwide.

  • 26th Amendment

    Lowered the voting age to 18.