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The 1776 NC Constitution
The 1776 Constitution was created in December 1776. Before North Carolina was a state, it was all controlled by the English Crown and had to follow English law. This constitution gave people rights and established the government of North Carolina for the time being. This constitution was ratified by the Fifth Provincial Congress. Even though the constitution was amended several times later, its still important because it established the first form of government here in North Carolina. -
Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention was the first Women's Right's Convention. This was held in July of 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York. The conventions purpose was to give women the right to vote. This convention was very important because it ensured that women had the right to vote just like men. Because of the convention, seven decades later it would give women the right to vote. Something else, is that it put forward the movement of giving women the right to vote, the convention made this possible. -
Passage of the 15th Amendment
This passage gave the African American men the right to vote. However, even though the amendment had already passed, discriminatory practices continued in the U.S, especially in the South to prevent the African American men from voting. This amendment was passed in Congress on February 26, 1869, but ratified on February 3, 1870. The 15th amendment is still very significant to us today. It is important because it allowed men of all races, color or status to be able to vote. -
Jim Crow Laws
The Jim Crow Laws were from 1877 to the 1950's. These were part of the racial segregation in the United States. The first law was the poll tax, this was just another method to keep the African Americans from voting in the elections, even though they already had the right. Literacy tests, were required to be taken to vote. Many black voters couldn't read, therefore they couldn't participate in the elections. The third law was the grandfather clause, it prevented colored people from voting. -
The Passage of the 17th Amendment
The 17th amendment is what gave voters the right to elect their Senator's. It was passed by Congress on May 13, 1912 and ratified April 13, 1913. It explained that their had to be only 2 Senators per state, with each one vote in the Senate. This is a very important amendment because it requires the direct election of US senators by voters. This allows everyone to have a fair say in their government and to elect who you think is best suitable to take on the role. -
Passage of the 19th Amendment
The passage of the Nineteenth Amendment was what gave the women in America the right to vote. Ever since the Seneca Falls Convention, women had been demanding the right to vote on a national level. This was because at the beginning of the 19th century women were denied some of the basic rights that were offered to men. This case is very significant today because it allows all women the right to vote. Which, in turn, is what promotes democracy in the United States. -
Indian Citizenship Act
This act that was made by Congress gives citizenship to all Native Americans that are born in the territory of the United States. Citizenship had been offered to the Native Americans who married Americans or to Native American veteran's who had fought in the Vietnam War. After this amendment was passed there was still some who denied them the right to vote. This act was very important because it granted citizenship to the Native Americans in the U.S without having to give up their traditions. -
Passage of the 23rd Amendment
This amendment gave the people that lived in the District of Columbia the right to vote. The people that lived in the District of Columbia were not seen as a state, therefore they did not vote. But this amendment was passed on June 16, 1960 and ratified on March 29, 1961. This amendment is very important because it gives everyone the chance to have a say in government by voting. In this case, they were able to vote for the people in the Electoral College that then voted on a president. -
Passage of the 24th Amendment
Before the 24th Amendment people had to pay a fee to be able to vote in the vote in the national election. This is what is called a poll tax. But then in January 23, 1964 the 24th amendment was ratified which prohibited any poll tax in these elections. This is very important today, because it allows more people to vote. Also, it takes away an obstacle that many people have when it comes to voting. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed in 1965 by Lyndon B. Johnson. He did this to try and overcome the legal and the state and local levels that prevented the African Americans the right to vote. Lyndon B. Johnson wanted to make sure that the 15th Amendment of the U.S Constitution also applied to the African Americans. To this day the Voting Rights Act is considered a big accomplishment in the civil rights legislation.This is very important today that gave African Americans voting rights. -
Passage of the 26th Amendment
This amendment was created to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 because many disagreed with the age limit that they had implemented to vote. This debate increased over the Vietnam War, they argued that how could men 18 and older fight for their country but be denied the right to vote. Therefore, on March of 1971 this was passed in Congress and signed into a law that July. This act is important because it proved that men that were 18 and served in the war should have the right to vote.
