Suffrage Learning Chack

Grandfather Clause

A legal mechanism allowing individuals to vote only if their grandparents had the right to vote before the Civil War, thus excluding many African Americans.

Literacy Test

A rigorous examination to determine if a person could read and write, often administered subjectively, negatively impacting African American and poor white voters.

Poll Tax

A fee required to be paid before voting, disenfranchising low-income individuals, particularly African Americans and poor whites in the South.

Register

The process of applying to vote, historically including barriers that make participation difficult for some groups.

Suffrage

The legal right to vote in political elections, pursued by various groups throughout U.S. history.

Political Efficacy

The belief that one’s vote matters and can influence political outcomes; low efficacy can lead to decreased voter turnout.

Voter Turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who actually cast a ballot in elections; influenced by various factors including registration and access.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

A landmark law aimed at eliminating racial discrimination in voting and providing federal oversight of voter registration in affected areas.

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in 1865.

14th Amendment

Granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. (1868).

15th Amendment

Prohibited denying a citizen the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude (1870).

19th Amendment

Granted women the right to vote in 1920, marking a victory for the women's suffrage movement.

24th Amendment

Prohibited poll taxes in federal elections, removing a financial barrier to voting (1964).

26th Amendment

Lowered the voting age to 18, acknowledging young people's involvement in elections (1971).

African Americans' Voting Rights

Gained rights primarily through the 15th Amendment and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, despite barriers like Jim Crow laws.

Women’s Voting Rights

Achieved through the 19th Amendment in 1920 after extensive advocacy.

Native Americans' Voting Rights

Gained citizenship in 1924 with the Indian Citizenship Act but faced voting barriers until the 1950s.

18-Year-Olds Voting Rights

Gained voting rights through the 26th Amendment in 1971.

Expansion of Voting Rights via Constitution

Established a foundation for suffrage by prohibiting discrimination based on race and gender through amendments.

Limitations of the Constitution

Loopholes allowed states to impose restrictions like literacy tests and poll taxes, hampering constitutional protections.

Role of Jim Crow Laws

Enforced racial segregation and disenfranchised African American voters through practices like literacy tests and poll taxes.

Who Can Vote Today

All U.S. citizens aged 18 and older, though some restrictions remain for convicted felons in certain states.

Ongoing Voting Challenges

Include voter ID laws, gerrymandering, misinformation, and suppression of voter registration among minorities.

Solutions to Voting Challenges

Grassroots mobilization, easier registration processes, automatic voter registration, and education on voting rights and processes.