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Introduction of Voting Rights
The Constitution allows states to set voting requirements for their citizens. Only white, tax-paying, land-owning males were eligible to vote. This only allowed about 6% of the population to vote. -
The Naturalization Act of 1790
Allowed white men born outside of the US to become citizens and vote. -
Loss of Voting Rights
From 1792-1838, freed black males lose the right to vote in several Northern states. -
Universal White Male Suffrage
By 1792-1856, all states dropped the property qualifications for white men. New states did not adopt the property qualification, but 3 states approved the poll tax qualification. -
14th Amendment
Citizenship is guaranteed to all persons born or naturalized in the US, which set the stage for future voting rights. -
15th Amendment
Voting can't be denied to any citizen of color, or different race. -
Dawes Act
Allowed Native Americans voting rights -
Poll Tax
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Literacy Qualifications
1890s-1960s, voters required to be able to read and write -
Grandfather Clause
added to Louisiana Constitution; any man , or his descendants, who had voted in the state before the adoption of the 15th Amendment -
17th Amendment
Allows citizens to elect their senators -
19th Amendment
White women's suffrage -
Smith v Allwright
supreme court case in that ruled it unconstitutional to deny membership in political parties to African Americans as a way of excluding them from voting in primaries (voided white primaries) -
Civil Rights Act of 1960
a law designed to further secure the right to vote for blacks and to meet problems arising from racial upheavals in the south -
23rd Amendment
Gave residents of Washington DC right to vote -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
made racial, religious, and sex discrimination by employers illegal and gave the government the power to enforce all laws governing civil rights, including desegregation of schools and public places -
Civil Rights Act of 1965
aka Voting Rights Act, gave federal protection to black voters which allowed many more to vote and participate in the government -
The Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1970
extended the voting rights law for another 5 years -
Literacy Tests Banned
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Voting Age
Age requirement lowered to 18 -
Another Extension
Voting Rights Laws extended for another 25 years -
Language-Minority Provisions
Law's language-minority provisions revised; they now apply to any community that has a minority-language population of 10,000 or more -
Felon Voting Rights
28 states changed their laws on felon voting rights, mostly to restore rights -
Voting Rights Act deemed unconstitutional
Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional.