Question

Who constituted "the people" according to political arrangements americas made during the war of independence?

Answer 1

"The people" were originally White, Property-owning Males over 21. They were the only ones that could originally vote. The property owning portion will almost completely be gone by 1828 (this is what helped Andrew Jackson get elected). Non white men will begin being able to vote with the passing of the 15th Amendment after the Civil War. Women will earn suffrage (right to vote) in 1920 with the 19th Amendment. Lastly, we'll lower the voting age to 18 in 1971 with the 26th Amendment, due to the Vietnam War.