Voting In America Research Paper

Being able to cast my first vote in the 21st century is a privilege. My generation needs to accept their patriotic responsibility and vote because many reforms are needed in order to carry us into the new millennium. Voting reforms are necessary to inspire political participation for other modifications and adjustments needed in areas such as health care, education, and Social Security, all which we as young people will face in the future. Participation in elections is necessary to facilitate and enable progress, but our present day system of voting is expiring by frustrated Americans.

The Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution was ratified on February 3, 1870, and granted African-American (Black) men the right to vote by declaring the "right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." (U. S. Const. amend. XV).

The 15th Amendment of the United States Constitution was passed by Congress on February 26, 1869, and was ratified February 3, 1870. The Amendment is label as the “Right to Vote”, however, there is deeper provision to this Amendment. Section 1, reads “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any States on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude” (NARA). Continued with section 2, “The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation” (NARA). The amendment was created to protect the rights of African American to vote, and has served as the groundwork for the Voting Rights Act of 1965. One day after the ratification, “Thomas Mundy Peterson of New Jersey became the African American citizern to vote under the authority of the 15th Amendment” (History.com). Additionally, in the same year the first ever African American from Mississippi was elected to the U.S Senate.

Growing up where half of my siblings aren’t born in America and what 's more, one sibling is still not even a citizen reminding me how voting can change everything. Even some of my friends who’s not born here and not a citizen grew up here there whole life with me. It’s terrifying that a vote can send people out of this country to another country where they have no knowledge of, other than being born in their country to get sent back. At first I didn’t care I didn’t think it was much of an issue at all. I was born in America so I didn’t think too much of wouldn’t concern me at all. On top of that, I just assume people are being paranoid that nothing wasn’t going to happen to anyone it is the United States. In my mind the only way they kick you out of America is breaking the law. However, I was mistaken. A few people I knew had been sent away. Voting plays the major part in political history. With reason, voting is subsequently important since it allows us to practice our rights as a Democratic nation. If we don’t vote, then we are allowing others to decide to tell us how to live our life and what’s right for us. Because history and politics in the voting, always had an effect in changing and molding the United States.

When voting in America first took only White man adults who own property and has lived in the country for a year or more. Than, later states began to allow all white man adults to vote but only White Males. Over time however, slowly, one by one states began to let woman vote but even then only certain women. Though, it wasn’t long till all woman got the right to vote! It was an even longer rougher road for those of other races for the votes to be

Like Malcolm Luther King said in his powerful speech " I have a dream that one day this nation will ... live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal'"(King). Voting Right in America have been a big issue in the past, only recently certain groups of people such as the African American are able to vote but to this day not every American has that right. For many years the United States have used territories in the Pacific and the Antilles, for mainly military purposes. Unfortunately, the millions who reside in the U.S territories do not have the same rights as every other American, they cannot vote for a president, have no U.S senators or a vote in the U.S House. These American

Presenting two forms of identification to cast a vote within the United States is an easy solution that would still allow the majority of the population to vote, and would also help eliminate the potential for voting fraud. Those opposing this law, are mainly Democrats that feel stricter ID requirements at the polls would “suppress the vote of segments of the population most likely to vote for Democrats, but also the least likely to have photo ID-racial minorities, the elderly, and the poor” (Ginsberg et all 328). The elderly, most likely would not possess an ID, as they have the least amount of need for one, however, other groups including the poor have a constant need for identification while living in the United States. Events and occurrences

In the late 1800’s, the only people who could vote were white men, and African American men had just received their right to vote. In 1878, a Woman Suffrage Amendment was proposed to The United States of America’s Congress, which allowed women to vote. In the late 1880’s, the first vote on women’s suffrage was taken in the Senate and not passed. While women were not making much headway on this subject, it seemed African Americans were until Louisiana’s grandfather clause in 1896. This clause kept former slaves and their descendants from voting, which resulted in the percentage of registered African American voters to decline. After this, other states such as Alabama, South Carolina, Virginia, and Mississippi enacted their own grandfather clauses.

In 1971 the twenty-sixth amendment brought down the voting age to eighteen for all states. Voting has gained some astonishing ground. From the picked few to everybody that meets the present voting essentials. Initially, the United States constitution had been controlled so that only white citizen men were qualified to vote. Equity has critically affected this law and today both genders have the right to vote. The principles of voting have changed consistently through many of the years. The fight for decency is still present today and has been exemplified already. With different dubiously discussions, it is always critical for any country to be made of values and rights. In spite of the way that it is seen that the US has accomplished full equity;

Married people vote more than others \citep{wolfinger1980who}, and the participation of one's partner is a good predictor of who participates in politics \citep{stoker_life-cycle_1995}. One of the explanations provided to why the partners political participation is of importance for one's likelihood to participate is that the political mobilization is socially driven. Partner's are an important source of social influence, and the most common political discussion partners \citep{beck1991voters}. The logic of this argument applies to political participation in general, and to voting participation in particular. One important difference between voting and many other forms of political participation is that the vote is personal. It cannot be handed

In the 19th century after the civil war the black population had nowhere to live and nowhere to work. Even though slavery was over they had nothing to their name so it was like they didn’t even have identities. The first act to get blacks the right to vote was in 1863 by president Abraham Lincoln. But before he could act upon his idea he was killed. When the 14th amendment was ratified it meant that there was citizenship for all blacks and voting rights for all blacks which the only state not to reject it was Tennessee. By 1968 all but three states ratified the 14th amendment, which was a part of the Military Reconstruction Act in 1867. After the end of reconstruction there was the 15th amendment. Which made no limits based on race, color or previous condition of servicetude. So in other words every black had the right to vote no matter what in any state. But all southern states made it difficult for blacks to vote, which included a poll tax, literary test and having 8 different boxes at the polls to confuse the blacks. The government tried to help the blacks be able to vote but it never really helped them because the hatred for blacks was too strong in the south.

Having the power to vote is very important because you get to have a voice and you get to speak your opinion. It’s a freedom to being able to vote because you are able to choose who you want. Being able to vote should be a good thing because during the 1920’s women just began to start voting. Women did not rule the country and which it was ruled by the men. When this event happened, the country was not one sided anymore and the women's voices could finally be heard. African Americans could also not vote until the 24th Amendment was passed which led to African Americans being able to vote. This event occurred on the date of August 6, 1965, when President Lyndon Johnson overcame the 15th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. We

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the right to vote was not equal throughout the American people. Most states during this time had different requirements for the voting eligibility of their citizens. For instance, some states did not allow certain races to vote. If a person moved

In 2017, if you’re an American citizen over the age of 18 and have not been convicted of a felony, you’re eligible to vote. At the time of the founding, the Constitution did not outline was allowed to vote, this choice was left up to the state governments. For the most part, only land owning white men over the age of twenty-one were granted the right vote. Over time, more and more people were allowed to vote. First black men were given the right through the 15th Amendment, then women, followed by Native Americans and then the age requirement was lowered to eighteen. Including more than just white landowning males in the democratic process was a long ordeal that took many decades and constitutional cases. Although, once someone’s right to vote was constitutionally “guaranteed”, it didn’t always happen that easily. Obstacles were put in place to continue to keep these marginalized groups from being able to have their voices heard. It has been said, that there is no right more precious than the right to vote. A society is not a truly democratic one when only a small group of the population are able to participate. The women’s suffrage movement in the United State’s began in the 1840’s and would continue well into the 20th century. The constitutional development of women getting the vote can specifically be seen in two important United States Supreme Court Cases, Minor v. Happersett and Leser v. Garnett, as well as the addition of the Nineteenth Amendment.

During 1776, most people were still not given the privilege to vote. The right to vote during that time was correspondent with freedom and citizenship after the Declaration of Independence was signed. In 1776, Maryland Gazettee, a newspaper in America, created “The Right to Free Suffrage,” which was a document about the United States after the Declaration of Independence was signed and some of the set of rules that was provide with it. Which raised the question and fair election and how could a government be formed if there are deprived from their voting right. This primary source demonstrated that everyone should have the right to vote and not anyone should get excluded from their voting right.