African American Citizenship In 1781

Jala Battle
Civics and Economics
Mr. Davis
Citizenship Research Paper
The definition of citizenship in 1781 was completely different from what it is in modern day. At that time, the only people considered to be citizens were people who were white. No persons of African descent were considered to be citizens. The majority of rights, benefits, and responsibilities were given to rich white males who owned property. They were given the rightful duties in all areas of government such as passing laws and voting. Everyone else, which included poor white males who did not own property, white women, and slaves were not allowed the same opportunities. There were some laws and regulations that have restricted the rights of citizens in America such as

During this time period white males who owned property were the only people allowed to vote due to the Naturalization Law of 1790. The Confederate states of America were forced to sign the fifteenth amendment which gave African American males the right to vote on February 26, 1869 (“Race and Voting in the Segregated South”). However, even though this amendment was passed, African American males were generally not allowed to vote without restrictions (“Race and Voting in the Segregated South”). In order to vote they had to pay a voting tax, pass reading tests, and many would risk losing their jobs if they tried to vote. These requirements made African American men stay away from the polls. Also, white primaries were held which allowed only white males to vote during primary elections and stopped African Americans from voting (“Race and Voting in the Segregated

Anthony and Elizabeth Cady on May 15, 1869 in New York City (“Women’s Suffrage”). This group believed women should have the ability to vote, maintain individual property while married, and they also did not like the fifteenth amendment (“Women’s Suffrage”). A year later, a more conservative group formed known as the National American Woman Suffrage Association was organized by Julia Howe and Lucy Stone who believed in the rights given by the fifteenth amendment. The two groups managed to eventually put their differences aside and come together as a whole to create the National American Women's Association on February 18, 1890. They worked together in marches, non-violent protests, and hunger strikes (“Women’s Suffrage”). Thirty years later on August 26, 1920, the nineteenth amendment was passed guaranteeing women the right to vote and the ability to participate in the democracy. This was important for helping to further extend the rights of all citizens in the United States (“The Fight for Women’s