Women's Rights: The 19th and 26th Amendments

The 19th Amendment was created so that women would have the right to vote, sit on a jury, and run for political office. Many women joined antislavery societies. While being part of these societies they learned to organize, hold public meetings and conduct campaigns. By joining these societies it educated them about politics, which helped them fight for their right to vote.

In the year 1920, Congress passed the 19th amendment so women had the right to vote. Susan B. Anthony was one of the leaders during the suffrage movement. During her time women didn't own property, go to college, or even hold a job outside the house. Frustrated with these facts women fought back. The 19th amendment was very popular, because they wanted the rights to vote, and to do the things men could do. There were a few people who didn't support suffrage, and to give women the right to vote. However, they finally realized that it was "fundamentally just" and "inevitable was bound to happen."

The 19th Amendment had an important impact on women, today. This impact went beyond the addition of the right to vote, work a real job, vote and run for office. The small group of women carrying signs and sighting for their rights, made a huge change for all American women. Today, many women are thankful that the 19th amendment was ratified so they are able to vote. Many years ago, women stayed at home to raise children. Now women work full-time jobs, and teach children.

The 26th amendment was created, after much controversy, so that U.S. Citizens who are the age of 18 would have the right to vote in federal, state, and local elections. There were other amendments that came before the 26th that dealt with voting rights, including the 13th, 19th, and the 23rd. The 15th amendment gave blacks the right to vote. The 19th amendment gave women the right to vote, and the 23rd gave voting rights to the residents of Washington D.C. Many states restricted voting to white me. Before this amendment, only citizens that were 21 or older were allowed to vote. One slogan that symbolized why the age should be lowered is "Old enough to fight, Old enough to die". which was used to lower the voting age to 18.

On July 5, 1971 the 26th amendment was ratified. The amendment was popular, because the 18-year-old boys were being drafted to fight in all the wars and many were dying. These wars included The War of 1812, The Civil War, World War I, and the draft of World World II. With all the men injured and dying, they didn't get the change to vote. Without the right to vote they had no voice in going to war or not going to war.

Without the 26th amendment, people the age of 18 would not have the right to vote today. "Eighteen year olds could not fully participate in the political process and enjoy the benefits of voting." Many people are glad that the voting age been lowered so that 18 year olds could be part of what goes on in the world. Today, eighteen year olds are being responsible adults and are able to do more things, for example voting for who they want to be our president.

References:
Monroe, Jude. The Nineteenth Amendment: "Women's Right To Vote".
Pendergast, Tom, Pendergast, Sara & Sousani, John. Constitutional Amendments - Volume 3.