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The Constitution establishes a bicameral (two house) Congress with a House of Representatives and a Senate. The people are allowed to vote for representatives. The Representatives would then choose Senators. The President was selected by the Electoral College. Voting rights were determined by the states. Voting rights are generally limited to white male landowners.
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South Carolina holds the first Congressional election for the 1789 Congress. American Revolution hero Thomas Sumter is one of five members elected.
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Virginia completes the first Congressional election. Future President James Madison is elected and chosen leader of the Anti-Administration minority.
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New Hampshire becomes the 13th state to ratify the 12th amendment making it law. Electors in the Electoral College now vote separately for President and Vice-President
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Women's rights advocate Susan B. Anthony is born.
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To celebrate the visit of women's rights activist Lucrecia Mott a convention is arranged at Seneca Falls, NY. Elizabeth Cady Stanton reads the Declaration of Sentiments, helping start the push for women's suffrage
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Black males acquire the right to vote when Iowa becomes the 28th state to ratify the 15th amendment
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Susan B. Anthony is arrested in Rochester, NY for illegally voting in the November 5th Presidential election. She goes on trial and is fined $100. She never pays the fine.
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Beginning in 1890, 10 of 11 southern states change their constitution in an effort to prevent black from voting. Poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses were adopted.
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Wyoming becomes the 44th state. Its constitution allows women the right to vote, making it the first state to allow women's suffrage. This image shows years in which other states allowed women's suffrage.
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New Zealand becomes the first country to allow all adult women to vote.
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Jim Crow laws such as poll taxes and literacy tests have a great effect on the number of black citizens registered to vote in Louisiana. By 1900 only about 5,000 are left. This is down from over 130,000 in 1896.
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After 3/4 of the states ratified the 17th amendment it becomes law. Senators are now elected by direct vote by the people. Prior to this, they had been chosen by state representatives.
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Tennessee becomes the 36th state to ratify the 19th Amendment. The amendment becomes law and allows women the right to vote. This map shows women's voting rights prior to ratification.
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President Calvin Coolidge signs the Indian Citizenship Act, allowing Native Americans to become citizens. Despite this, Native Americans are still refused the vote in many places.
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Part of the state constitution since 1877, Georgia abolishes its poll tax.
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Native American Miguel Trujillo, Sr. is denied the his attempt to register to vote. The courts in New Mexico rule in favor of Trujillo, making New Mexico one of the final states to allow Native Americans the vote.
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Citizens in Washington D.C. allowed to vote for electors of President and Vice-President with the passage of the 23rd amendment.
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The 24th Amendment bans poll taxes in federal elections.
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The Voting Rights Act of 1965 eliminates practices intended to prevent black citizens from voting. Signed by President Lyndon Johnson it specifically takes aim at literacy tests.
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Chief Justice Earl Warren and five other justices rule that poll taxes in state elections are unconstitutional in Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections.
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In response to the Vietnam War, the 26th amendment lowers the voting age to 18.
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Alabama institutes a voter identification law. Voters are required to present valid identification to vote.
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33 States currently have Voter ID laws.
