U.S. Voting Rights Timeline
1776 Only people who own land can vote Declaration of Independence signed. Right to vote during the Colonial and Revolutionary periods is restricted to property owners—most of whom are white male Protestants over the age of 21. No federal voting standard—states decide who can vote U.S. Constitution adopted. Because there is no agreement on a national standard for voting rights, states are given the power to regulate their own voting laws. In most cases, voting remains in the hands of white male landowners. George Washington elected president. Only 6% of the population can vote. Citizen=White 1790 Naturalization Law passed. It explicitly states that only “free white” immigrants can become naturalized citizens. Activists for ending slavery and women’s rights join together Women’s rights convention held in Seneca Falls, NY. Frederick Douglass, a newspaper editor and former slave, attends the event and gives a speech supporting universal voting rights. His speech helps convince the convention to adopt a resolution calling for voting rights for women. Citizenship granted, but voting denied The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo ends the Mexican-American War and guarantees U.S. citizenship to Mexicans living in the territories conquered by the U.S. However, English language requirements and violent intimidation limit access to voting rights. Vote expanded to all white men North Carolina is the last state to remove property ownership as a requirement to vote. Movements unite and divide Two women’s rights activists, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, form an organization for white and black women and men dedicated to the goal of universal voting rights. The organization later divides and regroups over disagreements in strategies to gain the vote for women and African Americans. Former slaves granted citizenship 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution passed. Citizenship is defined and granted to former slaves. Voters, however, are...