-
Rise of Democratic Politics
The rise of democratic politics began in the 1820s and lasted until about 1840. During this time, the expansion of voting rights was passed to white men. Before, men had to own property and hold a place in office to be eligible to vote, but these restrictions were revoked. This rise in politics protected voting rights by getting rid of specific regulations, allowing voting participation for white males, as long as they paid taxes, to rise dramatically. -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment was ratified in 1870, expanding the right to vote to freed black males. This amendment prohibited the denial of voting privileges based on race. Although this amendment was meant to protect the voting rights of the minority, many states in South found loopholes to deny these rights through the Jim Crow Laws and literacy tests. -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920, granting women's suffrage. Starting with the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, women had been fighting for this right for nearly 70 years. This amendment protects women's right to vote by legalizing and guaranteeing this right nationwide. -
Indian Citizenship Act of 1924
Native Americans have fought for equal rights since the founding of America, yet they were not granted until 1924. The Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 granted full citizenship to Native Americans, passing the right to vote along to them. Although the 15th Amendment granted all citizens the right to vote, the same right was not granted to Native Americans, but through this act, they now have it. -
McCarren Walter Act of 1952
By the late 19th century, immigration rates had grown drastically. However, Asian immigrants were denied citizenship and voting rights. However, the McCarren Walter Act changed that. This act granted citizenship to Asian- Americans, granting them the right to vote. -
23rd Amendment
The 23rd Amendment was ratified on March 29, 1961. Before this, people residing in the District of Columbia were not allowed to vote because they did not live in an actual state. However, this amendment changed that. The 23rd Amendment granted the District of Columbia the right to vote for Presidents. -
24th Amendment
Ratified in 1964, the 24th Amendment declared that poll taxes for federal elections were unconstitutional. This allowed people of all backgrounds- race, religion, and education- the right to vote, as long as they were 21 years or older. By getting rid of the additional payment, Congress opened the door for more people to vote. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Although the 15th Amendment was passed denying governments the right to ban citizens of a specific race from voting, many states, especially in the South, did not comply. The Voting Rights Act changed that. This act removes any discriminatory barriers, like literacy tests, from the voting process, protecting the minorities' rights. -
26th Amendment
The 26th Amendment was ratified in 1971. Before this amendment, the legal voting age was 21 or older. This law changed that requirement, lowering it to 18 or older. This protected the voting rights of many Americans because they are now able to vote when the reach the prime age of adulthood. -
VRA Reauthorization of 1975
After the passing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, it was time for some revisions to be made. The reauthorization that occurred in 1975 claimed that all literacy tests were permanently banned across the entire nation, and also stated translations for all voting materials. This act protected the voting rights of all minorities by making it easier to vote. -
Voting Accessibility for Elderly and Handicapped Act
People with disabilities were struggling to vote because they did not have accessible voting facilities. However, this act changes that. The Voting Accessibility for Elderly and Handicapped Act states that all polling places are required to be accessible for those with disabilities. This protects the rights of all who it pertains to by allowing easy access to vote.