Voting - Rights and Responsibilities A. Carafiello 2011-2012
Constitution The United States gained independence in 1783 after the American Revolution. After their independence, the nation had to determine how to structure the government. In 1787, the US Constitution was developed. The Constitution set-up the three branches. Later the Bill of Rights (establishing rights of citizens) was ratified in 1791.
Role of Voting The Constitution provided the opportunity for citizens to vote. Suffrage is the right to vote. Voting is a formal indication of a choice between two or more candidates or course of action. When have you ever voted? When have you ever abstained from voting? Why? How did it feel when you voted and didn t get your way?
Voting and Minorities Voting rights were not always granted to every US citizen. Many minority groups (women, African Americans, Native Americans) fought to obtain the right to vote. Why do you think they would fight to obtain the right to vote?
African Americans User-Defined Placeholder Text
Where can AA vote? In 1850, five New England states Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island were the only states with no racial disqualification for voting, but they were home to just four percent of the nation s free black.
African Americans The Fifteenth Amendment - 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. Written and ratified in 1870. What does this mean? Why do you think this happened in 1870? What was the status of African Americans before this? What do you think it meant to the African Americans to be able to vote?
What do you see in these pictures? Why are they drawn like cartoons?
Video-Mania The Right to Vote Rap - Voting Rights Act of 1965 When can we learn from these videos?
Problems with the 15th Amendment Women were angered because they weren t included in the 15th Amendment. African Americans still faced poll taxes, literacy requirements, property ownership, they couldn t hold public office, and were harassed when attempting to vote. Would you be willing to face these obstacles and violence to cast a vote?
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Women Women fought continuously to obtain the right to vote. They even went so far as to picket the White House during a time of war (World War I). This was unheard of! Women were imprisoned, starved, force fed, and beaten to secure their right to vote. Video - Women s Suffrage Documentary Video - School House Rocks Video - Night of Terror
Granted the Right to Vote The 19th Amendment in 1920 gave women the right to vote. Section 1: 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 sex.
Which states gave women the right to vote before the 19th Amendment? Why do you think this is? Vermont allowed women to vote in school board meetings, but not in elections.
Questions Why would women fight so hard to obtain the right to vote? Have you ever had to work this hard to get something? Would you consider the right to vote so important that you would be wiling to lose your life?
What do you see in these photos?
The 24th Amendment User-Defined Placeholder Text
24th Amendment Amendment was proposed in 1962 and ratified in in 1964. Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax. What does this mean? This came at a time when, African Americans in the south were asked to pay a tax in order to vote. This tax was meant to keep them from voting. Many African Americans didnʼt have the money to pay the tax. Should there be requirements to vote?
26th Amendment User-Defined Placeholder Text
26th Amendment A debate began after World War II in regards to the voting age. At that point you had to be 21 years old to vote. Citizens wanted to change the age to 18. Why would they want to do this during a time of war?