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The First Amendment : The Ratification Of The 19th Amendment

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As a child of the 21st Century I cannot imagine a time when women could not vote. As we approach the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, it has always seemed like an Ancient History subject. Why would anyone besides power hungry misogynists keep half the adult population from being able to be involved in the legislation for their cities, states and country? As with most history, the situation was actually much more complicated. It would be difficult to find any present day American who thinks that the 19th Amendment was a bad idea or unsuccessful. After the Revolutionary War, the US Constitution left the issue of voting rights up the states. As a result, universal white manhood suffrage was a long complicated journey. By the mid 1800’s, most of the limitations on property ownership, religion, tax payment and native birth had been removed and generally speaking every white man could vote.GILDERLEHRMAN After the Civil War, the ratification of the 15th Amendment in 1869 meant males of all ethnicities were allowed to vote. Now 50% of the population had the right. The 19th amendment of 1920 granted all women the right to vote. Now 100% of Americans, with the exception of certain felons, over the age of 21 could vote. On the surface, it seems that the 19th Amendment finished the job. Everyone can vote. That is not entirely true. The 19th amendment is not the same as an Equal Rights Amendment. Just because everyone can vote, does not mean

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