Isabella Carter
The most recent voting amendment to the US Constitution is the 26th Amendment, which was ratified in 1971. This amendment lowered the voting age for all elections to 18. Prior to this, the most notable amendment concerning voting rights was the 15th Amendment, which granted African American men the right to vote in 1870.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | 15th Amendment |
| Date of Ratification | February 3, 1870 |
| Purpose | Gave African American men the right to vote |
| Impact | Interpreted relatively narrowly by the Supreme Court; led to the rise of "Jim Crow" laws in the Southern states |
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What You'll Learn
The 15th Amendment (1870) granted African American men the right to vote
The 15th Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified on February 3, 1870, granted African American men the right to vote. The official text of the amendment is as follows:
> The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
The 15th Amendment was the last of the Reconstruction Amendments, which were passed after the Civil War to expand the civil rights of the newly-freed African American population. Before the Civil War, the most common voter eligibility requirement was that voters had to be white males who owned property above a certain value. However, certain states and cities allowed free African Americans and women to vote, though these were few in number and scattered across the Northern states.
Despite the 15th Amendment, many African Americans were still unable to exercise their right to vote due to discriminatory practices and laws such as literacy tests, poll taxes, and "grandfather clauses" that excluded those whose ancestors had not voted in the 1860s. The rise of the Ku Klux Klan also terrorized African Americans who attempted to exercise their right to vote. By the 20th century, the overwhelming majority of African Americans in the South had little to no electoral power.
In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson urged Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act, which abolished all remaining deterrents to exercising the right to vote and authorized federal supervision of voter registration where necessary. The Voting Rights Act was later extended in 1970, 1975, and 1982.
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The 19th Amendment (1920) gave women the right to vote
The 19th Amendment, ratified on August 18, 1920, granted American women the right to vote. The road to achieving this milestone was long and challenging, marked by decades of agitation, protest, and tireless work by champions of women's voting rights. The amendment was first introduced in Congress in 1878, and its ratification was the culmination of a protracted struggle for enfranchisement.
The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states, "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." This amendment legally guarantees the right of women to participate in the democratic process and marks a significant step towards gender equality in the United States.
The campaign for women's suffrage involved various strategies and faced fierce resistance. Supporters of women's voting rights lectured, wrote, marched, lobbied, and practiced civil disobedience. Some pursued a state-by-state approach, with nine western states adopting women's suffrage legislation by 1912. Others challenged male-only voting laws in the courts, and some employed more confrontational tactics such as picketing, silent vigils, and hunger strikes.
While the 19th Amendment was a pivotal moment in the history of women's rights, it is important to acknowledge that it did not ensure universal suffrage for all women. White women immediately benefited from the amendment's ratification, but women of colour, including Black women, Native American women, and Asian American women, continued to face discrimination and voter suppression for decades. It was not until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that crucial protections were extended to women of colour, ensuring their right to vote was protected regardless of race or ethnicity.
The 19th Amendment stands as a testament to the power of activism and the enduring pursuit of equality. While challenges and disparities persisted, the amendment's ratification represented a significant shift in the recognition of women's rights and their role in shaping the political landscape of the United States.
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The 24th Amendment (1964) eliminated poll taxes
The 24th Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified in 1964, eliminated poll taxes as a requirement to vote in federal elections. The official text of the amendment states:
> The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay poll tax or other tax. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
The 24th Amendment was a significant step in the pursuit of civil rights during the turbulent 1960s. It was passed at a time when the Civil Rights Movement was gaining momentum, and it coincided with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ended legal segregation and outlawed all forms of discrimination in the United States.
The elimination of poll taxes as a voting requirement addressed a long-standing method of taxation and voter suppression. Poll taxes have a history dating back centuries, with governments using them to generate revenue and, in some cases, restrict voting rights. In Colonial America, property ownership was initially a prerequisite for voting, but this was later replaced by poll taxes. Over time, voting rights were restricted further, limited only to white men who could pay the poll tax.
The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, granted African American men the right to vote. However, many Southern states continued to use poll taxes and literacy tests to disenfranchise Black voters, effectively suppressing the Black vote. This suppression persisted until the 24th Amendment was ratified, ensuring that the right to vote in federal elections could not be denied based on an individual's financial status.
It is worth noting that the 24th Amendment only applied to federal elections, and it would take further legislation, such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965, to address poll taxes and discrimination in state and local elections.
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The 26th Amendment (1971) lowered the voting age to 18
The 26th Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified in 1971, lowered the voting age to 18 for all elections. This was a significant development in the expansion of voting rights in the country.
The right to vote in the US has been a contested issue since the nation's founding. The original approach, as outlined in Article 1 of the Constitution, gave states the responsibility of overseeing federal elections and determining voter eligibility. Over time, various amendments and federal laws have been enacted to protect and expand voting rights, addressing issues such as race, gender, and age.
Prior to the 26th Amendment, several other amendments had already been made to expand voting rights. The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, granted all male citizens the right to vote regardless of their race or previous slave status. However, due to discriminatory practices and laws, many African American men were still unable to exercise this right. The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, extended voting rights to women, and the 24th Amendment, ratified in 1964, eliminated poll taxes, which had been used to disenfranchise African Americans.
The 26th Amendment built on these advancements by lowering the voting age, ensuring that more young people could participate in the democratic process. This amendment reflected a broader shift towards recognising the importance of youth engagement in politics and ensuring their voices were heard through the ballot box.
While the 26th Amendment was a significant milestone, the work to protect and expand voting rights in the US continues. Issues such as voter identification requirements and accessibility for disabled individuals remain important areas of focus to ensure that all eligible citizens can exercise their right to vote without unnecessary barriers.
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Federal laws protect the right to vote
Federal laws in the United States govern voting rights, with the aim of protecting citizens' rights and making it easier for them to vote. The US election laws date back to Article 1 of the Constitution, which gave states the responsibility of overseeing federal elections.
The 15th Amendment, passed in 1870, gave African American men the right to vote. However, many were unable to exercise this right due to barriers such as literacy tests and poll taxes. The 1965 Voting Rights Act was a landmark law that further prohibited voter discrimination based on race, colour, or membership in a language minority group. It also required certain places to provide election materials in languages other than English.
The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, gave American women the right to vote. The 24th Amendment, ratified in 1964, eliminated poll taxes, which had been used to disenfranchise African Americans. The 26th Amendment, ratified in 1971, lowered the voting age for all elections to 18.
The Civil Rights Acts, including the Civil Rights Act of 1870 and subsequent amendments, created some of the earliest federal protections against discrimination in voting. The Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984 required polling places to be accessible to people with disabilities.
While federal laws have been passed to protect the right to vote, it is important to note that most states require some form of identification before allowing individuals to vote.
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Frequently asked questions
The most recent amendment to the US Constitution regarding voting is the 26th Amendment, ratified in 1971, which lowered the voting age for all elections to 18.
The 26th Amendment changed a portion of the 14th Amendment and gave 18-year-old citizens the right to vote.
The previous amendment was the 24th Amendment, ratified in 1964, which eliminated poll taxes.
Poll taxes were used in some states to prevent African Americans from voting in federal elections.
Ratified in 1870, the 15th Amendment gave African American men the right to vote. However, many were unable to exercise this right due to discriminatory practices such as literacy tests and the activities of the Ku Klux Klan.
