Posts by midlandtallent:
History of Voting
July 31st, 2007 · 2 Comments
After the civil war ended slavery was outlawed and the fifteenth amendment was adopted. It stated that the United States would not deny voting rights on account of race or color. This brought on poll taxes, grandfather clauses and literacy tests in the South. These were all ways to try and prevent African Americans from being able to vote. Poll taxes were required fees that one must pay when voting. A grandfather clause was a rule that said “If your grandfather didn’t vote then neither are you.” Lastly, a literacy test was given to all voters and the ones that didn’t pass didn’t vote. This was a sad period in America’s history.
Later, the nineteenth amendment was passed and it stated that the United States would not deny voting rights to women either! This was proudly brought on by the women’s suffrage movements.
In 1971, the twenty sixth amendment was passed reducing the voting age from 21 to 18. Thanks to student protests that were against the Vietnam war this amendment was passed. They claimed that it wsa unfair that they were old enough to fight for their country but they weren’t old enough to vote and help make decisions for the good of the environment surronding them.
The American citizen today has not only the right to vote but, the obligation to cast their opinion, too. So, be sure to vote on November 6th because our ancestors laid down their lives so that we would have the freedom of casting our votes.
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