On Election Day Americans vote for the people we want to govern our country For over two hundred years we have come closer and closer to having universal suffrage This means that almost all adults now have the right to become citizens and to vote We work hard to make sure our elections are free fair honest and open But the American path toward universal suffrage has been a long and bumpy one 3
Washington speaks after being sworn in as president 1789 Timeline Expanding Voting Rights in America In 1776 people in the 13 American colonies declared their independence They wanted to choose their own leaders So they fought for freedom from the king of England and won The first federal election was completed in January 1789 States set their own rules for voting In most states only white male Protestant property-owners over the age of 21 were allowed to vote So only about 1 of the population actually voted 4
Over time the laws about who could vote began to change By 1828 there were no more religious restrictions on voting By 1856 all white men over 21 were allowed to vote not just property owners Scene at the Polls the presidential election of 1856 5
