GRADE: 6-12, Advanced (Lesson 2)
Voting Rights
Objective:
To describe evolution of voting in the United States as it pertains to the eligible electorate.
Materials and Resources needed:
1. Voting Rights Timeline
2. Mock Voter Identities
3. Paper
Suggested Teaching Time: 55 minutes or 1 period
Next Generation Standards for Social Studies:
1. Standard 1: Demonstrate an understanding of the origins and purposes of government, law,
and the American political system.
2. Standard 2: Evaluate the roles, rights, and responsibilities of United States citizens, and
determine methods of active participation in society, government, and the political system.
3. Standard 3: Demonstrate an understanding of the principles, functions, and organization of
government.
Suggested Vocabulary: Amendments mentioned, suffrage/enfranchisement, poll tax, literacy test,
abolition, constitutional
Student activity:
Students will view brief explanations of voting rights amendments and legislation to find which one
matches the identity they have been given. Students will very briefly explain to the class how and when
their identity acquired the right to vote. The class will complete a Voting Rights Timeline on loose leaf
paper.
Activity:
1. Have students list the qualities that a wise and responsible voter should possess. Briefly discuss
and list student responses on the board.
2. Print one “Mock Voter Identity” for each student. Distribute mock identities to students in
preparation for the Voter Rights activity. Ask students not share this identity.
3. Print the Voting Rights Timeline in large font to facilitate division and posting of each element
around the room.
4. Each student should use a piece of paper to create a timeline which will be filled out fully by the
end of class. Instruct students to use the Voting Rights Timeline that is posted around the room
to determine when their person was allowed to vote. Students should explain when and how
their mock identity was allowed to vote on the back of their timeline.
5.
After about five minutes have everyone return to their seats and begin a mock vote in which
the only person who can vote is a 21 year old white male landowner (the teacher should assume
this role). Next, ask who gained the right to vote in from 1776-1847 (white non-landowning, 21
year old males)-have all of the white non-landowning 21 year old males stand. Ask one of the
standing students to briefly explain how they acquired the right to vote. Instruct the whole class
to note this information on their personal timeline. Continue this process through the
completion of the timeline.
6. Ask students to reflect upon the list created at the beginning of the lesson, qualities of wise and
responsible voters.
7. As an extension activity, ask students to discuss this lesson and its meaning with their parents.
Mock Voter Identities
White non land-owning:
Black: age 21 male
age 21 male
White land-owning:
Black: age 21 female
age 21 female
Very Poor White non landBlack: age 18 male
owning: age 21
White: age 21 illiterate
Hispanic: age 21 illiterate
male
male
White non land-owning:
Hispanic: age 18 female
age 18 male
White: age 18 female
Hispanic: age 21 male
convicted felon
Asian: age 18 male
Illegal Alien
Asian: age 21 female
Non-citizen: Student
Native American: age 18
female
Native American: age 21
male
Voting Rights Timeline:

1776-1847 most property requirements abolished, state by state

1870 15th Amendment grants vote: 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. (However, poll taxes, literacy requirements
and out-and-out intimidation were often used to selectively keep
people away from the voting booth.)

it is argued before the Supreme Court that the 14th Amendment
grants women the right to vote but the Supreme Court decides it is
not unconstitutional for states to deny women the vote

1920, 19th Amendment grants women the vote

1924, legislation grants Native Americans the right to vote.

1964, 24th amendment outlaws poll taxes (the need to pay money to
vote)

1965, Voting rights Act passed in Congress outlawing the need to
pass tests to vote (this allows many minorities to be able to
vote)

1970 voting age lowered from 21 to 18 largely because of draft.