American Government

1. American Government Unit 3

2. Lesson 20 Pages 135-140 How has the right to vote been expanded since the adoption of the Constitution? • Objective: Describe the extension of the franchise as a result of changes in voting laws in Congress and various states, amendments to the Constitution, and decisions of the Supreme Court.

3. Why is the franchise important in the American constitutional system? • Franchise- right or privilege (in this case – to vote) • Enfranchisement- act of giving the right to vote to a person or a group of people • Representative government is based on the principle that people have a say • Most basic form of participation- vote in elections

4. Why is the franchise important in the American constitutional system? • Greek & Romans- legacy which includes that citizens should have an economic “stake” in the community in order to exercise the franchise intelligently. Property owners are more inclined to participate in government. • Colonies- most voting was a privilege limited to Protestant men who owned property. Lots of cheap land led to many participating.

5. Why is the franchise important in the American constitutional system? • Colonies (con’t) • By European standards, franchise was generous • Far exceeded the scope of franchise in GB • NO: • Women • Native Americans • Religious minorities • Slaves • Indentured servants

6. How was suffrage determined when the Constitution was adopted? Framers left it to the states to determined who voted.

7. How did voting rights expand for white men? • By early 1800s most states had removed the property ownership requirement to vote. • Some states included black men, many did not.

8. How did African American men win-then lose-the right to vote? • 15th Amendment- 1870 • gave African American men the right to vote • Limited by literacy tests • Limited by poll taxes • Grandfather clause- you can only vote if your grandfather had been allowed to vote • Physical intimidation • Economic reprisal- action that limits are eliminates your source of income

9. How did African American men win-then lose-the right to vote? • 1910- 20% of African Americans voted in the South • In some states it was less than 2%! • Only after the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s/1960s did the national government exercise its power to protect blacks against voting discrimination.

10. How was suffrage extended to women? • Mid-19th Century- campaigns for suffrage for women and blacks were combined. • Male anti-slavery leaders refused to support the women’s movement. • They were afraid that it would slow down the cause for former slaves. • 15th Amendment says “male citizen”

11. How was suffrage extended to women? • 1872- Susan B. Anthony and others went to the polls and insisted they be allowed to vote. They were denied and went to court. • Minor v. Happersett (1875)- • “being a citizen does not mean that a person has the right to vote” • Citizenship and voting are not necessarily related

12. How was suffrage extended to women? • 1869- Wyoming (still a territory), gave women the right to vote. • During the next 50 years other western states extended the right to vote to women. • By 1918- more than half of the states had enfranchised women.

13. How was suffrage extended to women? • 1920- 19th Amendment • After a national campaign that included huge parades, demonstrations, picketing and civil disobedience in Washington DC… • Women were granted the right to vote!

14. How was the franchise extended to Native Americans? • Original Constitution mentions “Indians” twice: • Article I – Indians not taxed, remained tribal under the government, excluded from the population in regard to representation and apportionment. • Article II – Congress regulates commerce between foreign nations, state and with Indian tribes.

15. How was the franchise extended to Native Americans? • They were “foreigners” and frequently treated as enemies. • “Problematic children” • Not citizens. • No right to vote.

16. How was the franchise extended to Native Americans? • 14th Amendment- did not change their status. • 1887- Dawes Act: • Citizenship offered to those who were willing to give up their tribal affiliation. • 1890- Indian Naturalization Act: • Granted citizenship in an application process similar to immigrant naturalization.

17. How was the franchise extended to Native Americans? • 1924- Indian Citizenship Act: • Franchise to all “Indians born within the territorial limits of the United States”. • Expectation that tribal governments would wither and they would assimilate into mainstream American society. • Encountered obstacles to voting • Jury duty • Giving testimony in court

18. How was the franchise extended to Native Americans? • 24th Amendment- 1964 • Cannot be denied the right to vote because you don not pay a poll tax or any other tax. • Voting Rights Act of 1965 • Outlawed discrimination against all minorities • Banned literacy tests • Prohibited the requirement of English fluency • Authorized national government to take control of any voter registration facility where a state denied voting rights to African American and other group.

19. How did eighteen-year-olds win the vote? • Before 1971- only Alaska, Georgia, Hawaii and Kentucky allowed persons younger than 21 to vote. • 1970- widespread protests against the Vietnam War led Congress to amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to include age 18 or older. • Oregon V. Mitchell (1970)- Congress could regulate the voting age in national elections, but not in states. • 26th Amendment- 1971 prohibited US and states from denying the right to vote to citizens who are age 18 and older based on age.

20. Finishing up! Complete Your Reflections