The Right to Vote Chapter 6 Section 1

Key Terms Suffrage Franchise Electorate Disenfranchised Poll Tax

Suffrage- means the right to vote Franchise- is a synonym for the right to vote Electorate- The potential voting public

1789 right to vote was for white males who own property – 1 in 15 could vote – Owning a donkey was considered property – Started to ease restrictions on the right to vote 230 million people over the age of 18 qualified to vote – Direct result of suffrage

Extending Suffrage 1 Struggle to extend voting rights in the early 1800’s – No religion test since 1810 – Eliminate property ownership and tax payment – Mid century all white males could vote

2 Followed the civil War – 15 th Amendment (1870) protect citizens of any race to vote – African Americans were systematically denied the right to vote – Disenfranchised- citizens denied the right to vote because of sex

3. The 19 th amendment- prohibited right to vote because of sex 1920 completed – Wyoming in 1869 as a territory gave women the right to vote

1960’s – Civil rights Act of 1965 – Focused on securing a full role ion the electoral process. – Racial equality finally became a fact in the polling place – 23 rd amendment- added voters of District of Columbia in Presidential elections. – 24 th amendment (1964) eliminated poll tax

5 th and largest expansion Adoption of the 26 th Amendment (1971) Lowered the voting age to 18 – No sate could set a voting age at more than 18

The Power to Set Voting Qualifications Constitution does not give the Federal, but does give it to the State Constitution places 5 restrictions – 1) anyone allowed to vote must be allowed to vote for representatives and senators – Can vote in all elections within the state – 2) No state can deprive any person the right to vote on account of race, color, or previous servitude. (15 th Amendment)

3) No person can deprive the person the right to vote because of sex (19 th Amendment) 4) No state can receive payment as a condition for nomination or election as an office holder – 26 th Amendment 5) No state can deprive any person who is 18 the right to vote