1. US Government and Politics October 7, 2015

2. U.S. Suffrage Suffrage means the right to vote At the time the Constitution was written, the founding fathers decided that suffrage should be determined by the states. Most states adopted the old colonial model— “voting was limited to white men over 21 who owned property and paid taxes and in some states at different times there were religious requirements too.” By 1830, all white male adults in the U.S. could vote and in some states free African Americans could vote too.

3. Suffrage Amendments “The Fifteenth Amendment (1870) prohibited the states from denying voting rights because of race or previous condition of servitude. The Nineteenth Amendment (1920) gave women the right to vote. The Twenty-third Amendment (1961) gave citizens of Washington, D.C., the right to vote in national elections. The Twenty-fourth Amendment (1964) prohibited a poll tax. The Twenty-sixth Amendment (1971) lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.”

4. Voting after the Civil War Many free African Americans living in northern states were voting before and during the Civil War Era. Enslaved African Americans living in the south were denied voting rights. The 13 th Amendment abolished slavery The 14 th Amendment made all African Americans citizens and prohibits excluding citizenship based on race The 15 th Amendment prohibited denying citizens the right to vote based on race. After the Civil War, most southern states still ignored these amendments by enforcing the Grandfather Clause, Literacy Tests, and Poll Taxes to prevent Blacks from voting. In the Grandfather Clause (1898) which allowed those who were able to vote before 1867 and those whose father or grandfather could vote before 1867 to skip the tests and taxes. Violence against Blacks also kept them from the polls. It wasn’t until the 1960s, that the Civil Rights Movement and news laws protecting Blacks’ rights did they have the right to vote and run for office more freely then ever before.

5. Women’s Suffrage The Women’s Rights Movement was in full effect in the second half of the 1800s. Women advocated for voting rights and more equal opportunities. The Seneca Falls Convention was the first women’s rights convention. Women for two days, July 19-20, 1848 to discuss women’s civil and social conditions. Women in western territories like Wyoming, Utah, and Idaho were voting since the 1890s. Susan B. Anthony traveled the country and gave numerous speeches in support of women’s right to vote. She voted in the 1872 election and stood trial for casting an illegal vote. She was acclaimed for her bravery and standing up for beliefs. All women were given right to vote by 1920.

6. Progressive Movement 1890 and 1920 - American politics was dominated by the Progressive movement, a loosely organized reform effort led by people who believed that society could be and must be improved. Progressives came largely from the middle class. They worked to increase the political power of the people and to clean up government. Some Progressives supported restrictions on voting among immigrants and the poor, and the movement failed to take up the cause of racial equality.

7. Voting Today The percentage of young people who vote has remained consistently lower than the percentage of people over 65 who vote. “In 2004 and 2008, the youth vote increased to nearly 50 percent, but that still doesn't compare with older voters. Seventy-two percent of voters aged 65 to 74 voted in 2008.”

8. Ways to Participate in Government “Joining a political party Supporting parties and causes with time and money Taking action in the community, volunteering for campaigns or political parties Communicating with representatives and other office holders Expressing their views publicly”

9. The Next Election 2016! – Presidential and Congressional Seats Registrar to vote when you turn 18 https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote and save form, print, and mail to local government office (Santa Fe) or fill out online application https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote You can registrar with a political party or be Independent

10. Local Opportunities Look for debates, rallies, and conventions in your local community Often there is at least one thing being “talked about” in your community Study the issues. Use your news sources—the Internet, TV, and radio.