Question

Describe two long term trends that have characterized the history of suffrage in the united states

Answer 1

Two long term trends that characterized the history of suffrage in the United States:

1. Various restrictions on the right to vote were gradually eliminated.
2. The federal government asserted authority over states in establishing laws regarding voting rights.

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Explanation

1. At the start of American life, only white men could vote, and only those who owned property.  Some early voting laws set religious requirements also.  For example, the initial constitutions of Georgia and South Carolina required voters to be members of the Protestant faith.  The religious test was ended with the 1787 adoption of the US Constitution, which said, "No religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."   Over time, the requirements for property ownership were dropped within individual states' laws.  Eventually, also racial and gender restrictions were removed.  The 15th Amendment (1870) gave voting rights to non-white men after the Civil War.  The 19th Amendment (1920) gave voting rights to women after the First World War.
2. The 15th and 19th Amendments as noted, serve as examples of a gradual  standardizing of voting rights across the country.  The authority of the US Constitution, constitutional amendments, and federal laws brought all states into line under the same guidelines.  Poll taxes that were targeted at keeping poor black Americans from voting were ruled unconstitutional by the 24th Amendment (1964). The Voting Rights Act of 1965 went further in protecting racial minorities from discriminatory practices in regard to voting.  The 26th Amendment (1971) gave all citizens 18 and older the right to vote, younger than many states previously allowed.  So the trend over time was a standardizing of voting practices nationwide.