How has the process to enfranchise more people evolved throughout U.S. history?(1 point)
Responses
The addition of new amendments to the Constitution has taken place rapidly with the additions of new amendments.
The addition of new amendments to the Constitution has taken place rapidly with the additions of new amendments.
The addition of new amendments to the Constitution has taken place primarily in the past 50 years.
The addition of new amendments to the Constitution has taken place primarily in the past 50 years.
The addition of new amendments to the Constitution has taken place slowly over many decades.
The addition of new amendments to the Constitution has taken place slowly over many decades.
The addition of new amendments to the Constitution has taken place only in the 1900s.
The addition of new amendments to the Constitution has taken place slowly over many decades.
The addition of new amendments to the Constitution has taken place slowly over many decades.
The correct answer is: The addition of new amendments to the Constitution has taken place slowly over many decades.
To understand how the process to enfranchise more people has evolved throughout U.S. history, we need to look at the history of amendments to the Constitution.
The Constitution of the United States was initially adopted in 1787 and did not originally provide for universal suffrage. The first amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, were added in 1791 and primarily focused on protecting individual rights and freedoms.
It wasn't until the mid-19th century that significant changes were made to expand voting rights. The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, prohibited the denial of voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. However, this amendment did not guarantee the right to vote for all citizens as it was followed by discriminatory practices such as poll taxes and literacy tests, which disproportionately affected African Americans.
The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, granted women the right to vote, further expanding the franchise. This was a significant milestone in the enfranchisement of more people, but there were still significant barriers in place for marginalized communities.
Subsequent amendments, such as the 24th Amendment in 1964 prohibiting poll taxes and the 26th Amendment in 1971 lowering the voting age to 18, continued to chip away at discriminatory practices and expand access to the vote.
Overall, the process of enfranchising more people in the United States has happened slowly and gradually over many decades. It has been marked by a series of amendments to the Constitution, each representing a step towards a more inclusive and democratic society.