Our Enduring Constitution Section 1: Changing the Law of the Land Color Transparency: Number of Black Elected Officials in the South Section Reading Support Transparency Section Outline I. Abolishing Slavery II. African Americans and the Right to Vote III. Women and the Right to Vote IV. Youth and the Right to Vote V. The Voice of the People 1 of 12

Our Enduring Constitution Section 1: Changing the Law of the Land Main Idea Key Terms Citizenship and voting rights have undergone dramatic change in our country’s history. The amendment process enables our Constitution to adapt to a constantly changing society. Suffrage Poll tax 2 of 12

Our Enduring Constitution: Section 1 Amendments 11-27 3 of 12

Our Enduring Constitution Section 1: Changing the Law of the Land Abolishing Slavery The Southern States Feared collapse of their economy if slave labor was outlawed Tensions Missouri Compromise, 1820: Divided new lands into “Free” and “Slave” territories Dred Scott Court Decision The Supreme Court ruled that slaves were property and not citizens. 4 of 12

Our Enduring Constitution Section 1: Changing the Law of the Land Abolishing Slavery (continued) The Civil War War fought between the Northern States (the Union) and the Southern States (the Confederate States of America) The Southern States wanted to be a separate country with their own weak federal government. 600,000 lives were lost during this conflict. The Thirteenth Amendment, 1865 Abolished slavery 5 of 12

Our Enduring Constitution Section 1: Changing the Law of the Land African Americans and the Right to Vote Go Online: Voting in the United States The Fourteenth Amendment, 1868 Established that all persons born or naturalized in the United States qualified for citizenship This included African Americans and former slaves. No state may “deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law” or “deny to any person…the equal protection of the laws.” The Fifteenth Amendment, 1870 Guarantees suffrage or the right to vote for all [male] citizens No state may deny the vote to any person on the basis of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” The Twenty-Fourth Amendment, 1964 Outlawed poll taxes or fees for voting Some states used poll taxes to keep minorities from voting. 6 of 12

Our Enduring Constitution Section 1: Changing the Law of the Land Women and the Right to Vote Left Out For the most part, women had been excluded from full citizenship and subsequent rights. Women’s Suffrage Movement, 1848–1920 Seneca Falls convention: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal.” The Nineteenth Amendment, 1920 Guaranteed suffrage for women 7 of 12

Our Enduring Constitution Section 1: Changing the Law of the Land Youth and the Right to Vote The Twenty-Sixth Amendment, 1971 Lowered the voting age to 18 The voting age had previously been 21. However, thousands of citizens between the ages of 18-20 had fought in foreign wars to preserve the American way of life, and it seemed unfair that they could not vote. 8 of 12

Our Enduring Constitution Section 1: Changing the Law of the Land The Voice of the People Amendments The ‘Framers’ of our Constitution were wise to include in it a process for changing it, should the need arise. However, a strong majority of representatives must agree on the proposed changes. There have been a total of 27 Amendments to the Constitution. 9 of 12

Our Enduring Constitution: Section 1 Color Transparency 10 of 12

Our Enduring Constitution: Section 1 Color Transparency 1. Which state had the highest number of black elected officials in 1970? In 1999? Alabama; Mississippi 2. Which state gained the largest number of black officials during the period shown? Mississippi gained the largest number of black officials. 11 of 12

Our Enduring Constitution: Section 1 Section Reading Support Transparency 12 of 12