The Right to Vote
Kathy Hufford
1 One of the most important rights of American citizens is the right to vote. Originally under the Constitution, only white male citizens over the age of 21 were eligible to vote. This injustice has been corrected and voting rights have been extended several times throughout our nation’s history. Today, citizens over the age of 18 cannot be denied the right to vote, regardless of race, religion, gender or disability. However, in every state except North Dakota, citizens must register to vote.
2 The right to vote was first extended to African Americans under the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution, passed after the Civil War. These amendments guaranteed that all male citizens, regardless of their race, would receive equal treatment under the law and not be deprived of their rights as U.S. citizens. The Fifteenth Amendment is specifically dedicated to protecting the right of all citizens to vote, regardless of their race.
3 However, this was not the end of the voting rights struggle for African Americans. Because of widespread discrimination in some states, African Americans were not assured full voting rights until President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act in 1965.
4 Women were denied the right to vote until 1920, when the Nineteenth Amendment was passed. Prior to that, women had only been able to vote in select states.
5 National elections occur every two years, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Every member of the House of Representatives and about one-third of the Senate is up for reelection in any given election year. A presidential election is held every fourth year.
Question
Which MOST ACCURATELY identifies the relationship between the rights to vote for African Americans and for women?
Responses
A Women and African Americans were extended the right to vote in the same year.Women and African Americans were extended the right to vote in the same year.
B Women were not extended the right to vote until after African Americans.Women were not extended the right to vote until after African Americans.
C Women were extended the right to vote before African American males.Women were extended the right to vote before African American males.
D Women were not extended the right to vote until after African American males.