1. POLI 101: U.S. Government
Dr. Kevin Lasher

2. Suffrage in the United States

3. Suffrage in the United States
Extension of voting rights is a 200 year process
Concept of “universal suffrage” is resisted by various groups throughout American history
Some citizens (women, African Americans) had to “struggle” in a major way to win voting rights
History of American suffrage “complicates” the view of American democracy
Struggle for universal suffrage is not over in 2019

4. Founding Period (late 1700s)
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5. Founding Period (late 1700s)
No democracies existed in late 1700s
In England, 5%-10% of men could vote for Parliament
Idea that only property owners should be allowed to vote; property owners were “tied” to community and were sufficiently independent
Revolutionary rhetoric about freedom, equality, natural rights fed the “idea” of equal citizenship rights for all free male citizens
Conflict between “fear of democracy” and revolutionary ideals
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6. Founding Period (late 1700s)
Colonies/states had different rules for voting; most had some property-owning or tax-paying qualifications
Framers at constitutional convention were “ambivalent” about democracy and suffrage
Shay’s rebellion ( ) was extreme example of “mob democracy” in action
Founding fathers created a republic over a democracy
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7. Founding Period (late 1700s)
Constitution grants states the power to decide rules for suffrage
Voting was a “privilege” more than a “right”
14th Amendment is first instance of concept of a “right to vote”
HOWEVER – by 1790s about 60-70% of white males could vote (free black men could vote in 10/13 states)
USA as “quasi-democracy” in a world of NO democracies
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8. Jacksonian Democracy (1828-1850s)
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9. Jacksonian Democracy (1828-1850s)
Property-owning or tax-paying requirements are eventually dropped in most states; most white men can vote
Population increases from 4 million in 1790 to 20 million in 1850
Fewer male citizens met property-owning/tax-paying requirements; smaller farms or leased farms; rise of urban workers
New states encourage settlement by “granting” universal suffrage
Creation of new mass parties which must “compete” for votes
Intensification of “democratic” ideals
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10. Jacksonian Democracy (1820s-1850s)
USA achieved universal white male suffrage (nearly)
Women’s suffrage movement begins
Free black men disenfranchised in most states (could vote in only 5/35 states by 1850s)
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11. Post-Civil War Period (1865-1900)
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12. Post-Civil War Period (1865-1900)
Abolition of slavery does not necessarily imply voting rights for freed slaves (eventually it did)
Idealistic and practical reasons to support black male suffrage
200,000 black Union soldiers (earned the right to vote)
Northern Republicans view freed slaves as new “voting bloc” for themselves
Black men in North and South “enfranchised” via 14th and 15th Amendments; 15th Amendment prevents disenfranchisement on basis of race
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13. Post-Civil War Period (1865-1900)
Southern states undertake series of “informal means”(including violence) to limit black voting in decades following 15th Amendment
“Formal procedures” (literacy tests, poll taxes, white primaries) created in 1890s
Southern black males “disenfranchised” by early 1900s (despite language of 15th Amendment)
Northern Republicans grow tired of suffrage issue
Major failure of building American democracy
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Enfranchisement/Disenfranchisement

14. Women’s Suffrage Period (1848-1920)
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15. Women’s Suffrage Period (1848-1920)
Argument against women voting based on “traditional” view of women’s role in society; women not independent; politics “beneath” women; politics “harm” family life
1st women’s rights convention held in NY in 1848; calls for women’s suffrage
Two separate women’s suffrage organizations formed in 1869
Women hope that 14th and 15th Amendment will include voting rights for women – does not happen
Supreme Court rules that 14th Amendment does not guarantee voting rights for women in 1875
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16. Women’s Suffrage Period (1848-1920)
Wyoming enters union with women’s suffrage in 1890
New Zealand becomes first country to give women the right to vote in 1893; a dozen or so countries follow suit before USA
Suffrage movement expands to include working women during early 1900s
15 states grant voting rights to women before 1920; 11 states during 1910s
Women’s assistance in WWI helps win support for voting rights
19th Amendment passed in 1920 (failed 1914 and 1915)
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17. Civil Rights Period (1900-1970)
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18. Civil Rights Period (1900-1970)
Disenfranchisement of Southern black men “complete” by early 1900s
Early civil rights movement focuses on courts and on “separate but equal” over voting rights
African Americans’ participation in WW2 raises new concerns about lack of voting rights in South; nature of WW2 raises “democratic ideals”
White primary declared unconstitutional in 1944; black registration in South rises slightly
President’s Committee on Civil Rights calls for voting rights for southern blacks in 1947; national government should expand and protect such rights
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19. Civil Rights Period (1900-1970)
Civil rights protests of 1950s
Perhaps 25% of southern blacks registered to vote by 1956
Civil Rights Act of 1964 ends “overt” discrimination
24th Amendment bans poll tax in 1964
Voting Rights Act of 1965 guarantees voting rights for African American men and women in South; federal government empowered to oversee elections
Extension of Voting Rights Act bans all literacy tests in 1970
Black turnout in Southern states approaches that of whites by late 1960s
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20. Vietnam Period (1960s)
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21. Vietnam Period (1960s)
Voting age is 21 – based on British and colonial tradition
In 1942 draft age lowered to 18; weak attempts to lower voting age to 18
Protests against Vietnam War by college students who can be drafted but cannot vote; student protesters demand voting rights
“Old enough to fight, old enough to vote”
Mixed motives for supporting year old voting
1970 Voting Rights Act extension lowered voting age for all elections, Supreme Court overturns for state and local elections
26th Amendment passed in 1971 (4 months time)
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22. Conclusion USA achieves near-universal voting rights by 1971 HOWEVER
Felons temporarily disenfranchised in all but two states; states return voting rights upon full completion of sentence and 10 states require special actions to return voting rights; high affect on minority males
Political participation requires more than voting
Voting turnout is low in USA; around 60% or less for presidential elections
Election disputes in 2000, 2004, 2016
New voter ID laws in many states which limit access to voting
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23. Does our vote really matter?
Do we have a meaningful choice?
Does our vote really matter?
Do politicians listen to us after the voting is finished?
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24. The End