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State Legislatures Appoint Senators
Until the 17th amendment, state legislatures appointed senators. Over time, people realized this was a corrupt system because it could be heavily influenced by big business and other special interest groups. This directly led to the 17th amendment. -
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Anti-Federalists and Federalists Argue About Section 3 of the Constitution
A part of section 3 of the Constitution was controversial. Part of article 3 of the Constitution allowed federal courts to hear cases between members of two different states. Anti-Federalists were afraid that this meant people could sue states, but the Federalists denied this and said states could only be sued with their consent. Some other Federalists didn't accept that though so it's interpretation was pretty lose. -
Citizens of the District of Colombia Can't Vote
Since Washington D.C. is a federal district and not an actual state, they weren't allowed to vote in elections however still got taxed. This obviously angered the people because it's taxation without representation, so it was protested and the 23rd amendment was created. Residents are still unrepresented in Congress. -
11th Ammendment
Proposed on March 4th, 1794 and passed in February 17th, 1795, the 11th Amendment prohibits federal courts from hearing certain lawsuits between states. It also means that state courts don't have to hear cases against their state (if based in federal law). -
Temperance Movement and Anti-Saloon League
A group of people and movement that blamed alcohol for almost every problem. Classic Americans blaming everything except themselves! Led campaigns on every level of government and tended to be religious. Directly led to the 18th amendment. -
Election of 1800
The election of 1800 ended in a tie between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. This was because before the 12th amendment, candidates for president and vice president were on the same ballot. This meant running mates could technically be running against each other. This was a problem because Jefferson and his running mate, Aaron Burr, each received 73 votes (John Adams received 65 and his running mate, Charles C. Pinckney, received 64). This was moved to the House and Jefferson was the winner. -
12th Amendment
Now there's separate ballots for the electoral college for president and vice president. This was because of the election of 1800. It was passed by Congress on December 9, 1803, and ratified June 15, 1804. -
Women's Suffrage Movement
Started nationally in 1848, the right to vote becomes a key point in the women's rights movement. Obviously there's more to the movement than that, but it leads to the creation of the 19th amendment. -
Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation
I'm going to oversimplify this because we all know it. On April 12, 1861, the Civil War starts in the United States. It was because the southern states wanted to remain slave states because they're evil and wanted cheap labor. On January 1st, 1863, Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which freed the slaves in the rebellious states. This didn't free the slaves up north though, but caused the 13th amendment which did. -
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Racist Voting Policies
After the Civil War, the southern states still wanted to limit African Americans voices which led to Jim Crow laws. One of these racist policies was poll tax, since a lot of African American's were poor because of slavery and the conditions the US put them under. It was one of the reasons why the 24th amendment was created. There still are some racist polices today such as the location of some polls. -
13th Amendment
Abolished slavery/involuntary servitude in the United States. This was because of the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation. -
14th Amendment
Everyone born in the United States (including formally enslaved people) is granted citizenship and "equal protection of the laws". Passed on June 8, 1866, and ratified on July 9, 1868. It was caused by the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation. -
15th Amendment
The voting rights of citizens of the United States can't be denied or abridged by the United States. Still wouldn't allow for women to vote, but black men could now. Passed on February 26, 1869 and ratified February 3, 1870. Caused by the Civil War and Emancipation Proclamation. -
16th Amendment
The government can collect an income tac from all Americans. This also allows the federal government to keep tax money and not share it with the states. Passed on July 2,1909, and ratified February 3, 1913. -
17th Amendment
The election of Senators is by the voters of those specific states. Passed on May 13, 1912, and ratified April 8, 1913. -
Rise of Bootlegging and Gangs
After the 18th amendment passed, it led to the rise of bootlegging and gangs. They provided a demand and got rich off of it. Eventually it became so common that the US made it legal again. -
18th Amendment
The 18th amendment prohibited alcohol. It wasn't enforced with great effect and led to the rise of bootlegging and gangs. Proposed on December 18, 1917, and ratified January 16, 1919. It was repealed almost 20 years later. -
19th Amendment
Granted women the right to vote. Voting cannot be denied in any states on account of sex. Passed May 21, 1919 and ratified August 18, 1920. -
20th Amendment
Sets the dates where federal government elected offices end. Also makes the vice-president president if the actual president dies. Passed on March 2, 1932, and ratified January 23, 1933. -
21st Amendment
Repealed federal prohibition. Created because of emerging bootlegging economies. Passed on February 20, 1933, and ratified December 5, 1933. -
FDR's Third and Forth Term
Washington was the first to set the two-term tradition and most presidents followed it. It was to differ from Britain and show that we weren't a tyrannical power. Some presidents have tried and failed to run for a third-term, Until FDR. He ended up getting a third and even forth-term (for a short time though as he died). This angered a lot of Republicans as they felt it was a threat to democracy, which led to the 22nd amendment. -
22nd Amendment
Limited a president's term to two. Passed on March 24, 1947, and ratified February 27, 1951. -
23rd Amendment
Granted Citizens of Washington D.C. the right to vote in presidential elections. Passed on June 16, 1960, and ratified March 29, 1961. -
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Vietnam War Draft
From 1964 to 1973, the US drafted 2.2 million American men. People didn't like this because although the war wasn't our problem, the US would draft people 18 and older. People aged 18-20 couldn't even vote though, so what gave the US the right to draft them? This led to the creation of the 26th amendment so the US could kill more citizens in a useless war. -
24th Amendment
Prohibits the Federal and State government from enforcing poll taxes before someone could even participate in a federal election. Passed on August 27, 1962, and ratified January 23, 1964. -
25th Amendment
Makes rules regarding vacancies in the office of the president and vice president. Passed July 6, 1865, and ratified February 10, 1967. -
26th Amendment
Extends voting rights from 21 to 18. Mainly because of the Vietnam war. Passed on March 23, 1971, and ratified July 1, 1971. -
27th Amendment
Prohibits any law that can change the salary of any member of Congress until their next term. Submitted September 25, 1789, and ratified May 5, 1992. Has the longest ratification period with more than 202 years.
