Section 3.4: Voting Rights in the USA

Section 3.4: Voting Rights in the USA

​Suffrage: The right/ability to vote/participate in elections.

(Most important way to participate in a democracy)

Fill in the Blank

The most important way to participate in a democracy it to vote. The formal term for the right to vote is called...

Who could vote when the US was founded?

​Under the original US Constitution, only white males with property could vote.

(This has changed/progressed over time)

Multiple Choice

Who could vote under the original US Constitution?

• Women

• Racial Minorities

• Native Americans

• Property-Owning White Males

Jacksonian Democracy

​All white males could vote. (1824-1840)
(States dropped property requirement)

15th Amendment

​All males could vote.
(1870)
(Could not deny voting rights based on race.)

19th Amendment

​Women could vote. (1920)

(It took decades of effort to achieve.)

23rd Amendment

​Washington, D.C. has electoral votes (1961).

(D.C. = State for Presidential Election)

24th Amendment

​Poll Taxes were made illegal.
(1964)
(Cannot require people to pay to vote.)

26th Amendment

Lowered Voting Age to 18.
(1971)
(Vietnam War Draft = 18 Years Old)

Reorder

Put the progression of American voting rights in the correct chronological order:

• White Males w/ Property

• All White Males

• All Males

• Women

• Citizens 18 and Older

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Match

Match each advancement in Suffrage to the correct definition:

• Jacksonian Democracy

• 15th Amendment

• 19th Amendment

• 26th Amendment

Dropped Property Requirements.

Granted all Males the Right to Vote.

Granted Women the Right to Vote.

Lowered the Voting Age to 18.

• Dropped Property Requirements.

• Granted all Males the Right to Vote.

• Granted Women the Right to Vote.

• Lowered the Voting Age to 18.

Who can vote in the USA today?

Any Citizen who is 18 Years Old by Election Day.
(Must Register to Vote & Vote Where You Live)