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1776 North Carolina Constitution
The first North Carolina Constitution was created in 1776 after the American Declaration of Independence. The current form was ratified in 1971 and has 14 articles. The significance of the North Carolina Constitution is it gives the right to vote to the people except felons. It is important since we live in a national polity that includes federalism. There have been two major revisions and many amendments.There have been three constitutions North Carolina has had -
Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention was the first women's rights convention. It was a convention that discussed the social and religious condition and rights of woman.The significance of this was that it demanded equal social status and legal rights for women, including the right to vote.The Seneca Falls Convection was extremely significant because it was the first step toward sexual equality.Seneca Falls lead to the ratification of the 19th amendment in 1920 giving women today the right to vote. -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment to the Constitution granted African American men the right to vote. They were able to vote instead of just doing work. The significance is that No matter their color, most Americans over 18 can register to vote. Then it is important because it allows the deciding in who has a right to vote. It to protect the civil rights largely and the voting rights specifically of its racially diverse population. Thomas Mundy Peterson was the first black person known to vote. -
Jim Crow Laws
Jim Crow law enforced racial segregation in the South. The name is believed to be derived from a character in a popular minstrel song. The significance of this is that the poll taxes were eliminated. Literacy test is a test that determines the qualification of a voter based on his/her his ability to read and write or ability to read and understand any section of the State or Federal Constitution. Today we do not have the Grandfather Clause. -
17th Amendment
The 17th Amendment gives voters the power to directly elect their senators. It also states that the U.S. Senate includes two senators from each state. The significance is that Senators are elected for six-year terms. It's allowing voters to cast direct votes for U.S. Senators.The popularity of the 17th amendment with the people was important though and that helped the 17th amendment survive all the way to today.They could no longer have their interests represented in the legislature -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment is passed, granting women the right to vote. Most Southern states had rejected the motion of women voting.
The significance had granted women the right to vote. It prohibited people in the United States to vote based on their sex. Before that women were not allowed to vote during that time. The women would stay home and take care of the children. -
Indian Citizenship Act
This gave citizenship to all native Americans who had not already achieved it.The is gave native Americans recognition in the law and in theory the right to vote. The significance of this is that some Native Americans run successful businesses, while others still live in poverty. This Act returned some of the land to Native Americans. The U.S. government invested in the development of health care, education and community structure.Quality of life on Indian lands improved. -
23rd Amendment
The 23rd Amendment was ratified. It granted residents of the District of Columbia to vote for electors. The significance of this is that it gives residents of Washington DC the right to vote.The Electoral College chooses our next president, based on the voting within their state.It gives the nearly one million people who live in the district of Columbia some say on who becomes their President. It would gives those citizens of the United States some say on legislation. -
24th Amendment
The United States ratified the 24th Amendment to the Constitution, prohibiting any poll tax in elections for federal officials.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.The significance of this is African Americans in the South faced significant discrimination.They could not vote for elected officials that would work to end the discrimination.The 24th Amendment Prohibits Poll Taxes. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels. This had prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote. The significance of this is that in the United States it prohibits racial discrimination in voting. There are people in any race that are allowed to vote. It doesn't matter where they come from because the Voting Rights helps them. -
26th Amendment
The 26th amendment granted the right to vote to American citizens aged eighteen or older. The 26th Amendment allowed for the institution of a nation voting age, which allowed for the variance in the legal voting age taking place on a state-by-state basis. The significance is that when you turn 18 you will be able to vote in all elections, be it state, local or federal. The 2008 presidential election of Barack Obama saw a voter turnout and it was the second highest in history.
