Expansion of Democracy

By ccaraco
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    Democracy Timeline

  • White Male Suffarage

    Universal Suffrage was the act of making it so all men could vote, except minors and non-citizens. The right to vote is not taken away from any race, belief, wealth, or social status. This made the United States more democratic because all men any race, wealth, belief, or social status.
  • 13th Amendment

    The 13th Amendment to the Constitution declared that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." Therefore abolishing slavery in the United States. The 13th Amendment was passed by the Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified by the states on December 6, 1865.
  • 14th Amendent

    The amendment addresses citizenship rights and equal protection of the laws, and was proposed in response to issues related to former slaves following the American Civil War
  • 15th Amendment

    The 15th Amendment to the Constitution granted African American men the right to vote by declaring that the "right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude."
  • Secret Ballot

    The Secret Ballot made it so that the voter had a choice to vote on who he wanted because it was anonymous. The voter's didn't experience intimidation and be bought for their vote. This made the United States more democratic because now men could vote for who they wanted and not be influenced by others.
  • Referendum

    A vote by a single voter on one political issue that has been given to them for a decision. (1902) Referendum has made many states more democratic because everyone has the right to vote.
  • Recall

    A recall election (1911) is when voters can remove an official off of the ballot before their term has ended. The process of a recall election has made states more democratic because it gives the voters the right to remove an official off of the ballot if they do not see fit.
  • Women’s Suffrage in WY, UT, CA

    In WY, UT, was made in 1869. CA was made in 1911.
    Women's Suffrage is when the women began to get the right to vote. Women’s Suffrage helped WY, UT, and CA become more democratic because it let women have the right to vote.
  • 17th Amendment

    The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution established the election of United States Senators by the people of the states.
  • 19th Amendment

    19th amendment guarantees all American women the right to vote. Achieving this milestone required a lengthy and difficult struggle; victory took decades of agitation and protest.
  • 24th Amendment

    The 24th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America abolished the poll tax for all federal elections. A poll tax was a tax of anywhere from one to a few dollars that had to be paid annually by each voter in order to be able to cast a vote.
  • Equal Pay Act

    The Equal Pay Act of 1965 was passed on June 10, 1965. It was made to make the gender pay gap smaller. John F. Kennedy signed it in part with the New Frontier Program. This made the United States more democratic because women and men got payed the same amount.
  • Civil Rights Act

    This amendment ban the discrimination between color, races, religion,gender and origin-they all have to be treated the same. It prohibited the separation of races in public places like schools and workplace. The Civil Rights Act helped the country become more democratic because it allowed all people of color to not be discriminated anymore and to finally have the rights they deserve.
  • Voting Rights Act

    The Voting Right Act of 1965 was the act to make sure everyone of every race could vote. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed this during the Civil Rights Movement. This made the states more democratic because everyone could vote and no race couldn't vote.
  • 26th Amendment

    Passed by Congress March 23, 1971, and ratified July 1, 1971, the 26th amendment granted the right to vote to American citizens aged eighteen or older.
  • Civil Unions

    Civil Unions (1999) are the union of same-sex couple that also get the benefit of the rights of married couples. Civil Unions help the states become more democratic because it lets same-sex couples have the same rights as married couples. Civil Unions give same-sex couples more freedoms.
  • Gay Marriage

    Gay marriage is the marriage of two people of the same sex. Gay marriage helps the states become more democratic because it allows more people to marry who they want and have no laws restricting them.