How VOTING RIGHTS Expanded from 1800-1848 [APUSH Review]
🎯 Main Topic
The video explains how voting rights in the United States expanded during the early 19th century, particularly from the era of Jefferson through the Jacksonian era, and how these changes affected politics and society.
🕰 Key Developments in Voting Rights
Property & Wealth Requirements Loosened
Early 1800s: Many states required voters to own property or pay taxes to vote.
By 1848, most white men could vote regardless of property ownership.
This shift increased political participation among the “common man.”
Rise of Universal White Male Suffrage
Jacksonian Democracy promoted the idea that all white men should have political rights, not just elites.
Political parties became more inclusive of the average voter, emphasizing mass participation.
State-Level Reforms
States individually eliminated property or tax requirements at different times.
New states in the West tended to adopt more democratic voting laws immediately, reflecting frontier ideals.
Impact on Elections & Politics
Higher voter turnout: elections became more competitive and politically charged.
Campaigns became more populist, with rallies, parades, and newspapers appealing to ordinary voters.
Political power shifted from traditional elites toward new politicians representing common people (like Andrew Jackson).
Limits & Exclusions
Expansion was mainly for white men; women, Black Americans, Native Americans, and non‑property owning free men of color were generally excluded.
Voting rights debates often reflected regional and economic tensions, not full equality.