Voting rights and political participation

Voting Rights

History of Voting Rights in the United States and African-American Struggle

The ultimate end of all freedom is the enjoyment of a right of free suffrage.

"A WATCHMAN," Maryland Gazette, 1776 (qtd. In Keyssar 8)

Voting is the most important process that allows the general public to communicate or refuse to give consent. During the mid-1770s, an innovative epoch began when Americans challenged the Britain's right to rule the colonies. The American Revolution provided the basis of a public debate on the issue of suffrage and its restrictions. During that time period, voting was considered a privilege that the state granted to the citizens in its own interest. However, it was constantly argued that voting was a natural right that could not be deferred by the state. This argument got tremendous support not only from the small farmers and minorities but influential Revolution leaders Ethan Allan, Thomas Young and Franklin also favored it (Keyssar, "The Right to Vote: The Contested History of Democracy in the United States," Basic Books, 2000, May 21, 2011, Web, http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=30531338).

In this regard, African-American strived extremely hard to attain equal political opportunities for them. To begin with, it is important to discuss the First and Second Reconstructions which were introduced after the Civil War and World War II. The First Reconstruction was unsuccessful in protecting the voting rights of the African-Americans. The reasons of this failure were the catastrophic decisions of judiciary, severe difference of Republicans and Democrats opinions regarding the black suffrage and variable majorities in Congress. However, the Second Reconstruction played a pivotal role in developing and improving the impartiality of minorities. It was because of the positive legal decisions, provision of basic civil rights and unwavering congressional arrays (Kousser, 1999).

However, it was in 1965 that the protracted struggle for voting rights took a crucial turning point. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 had made it feasible for the African-Americans to benefit from the new opportunities and prospects. Despite the fact that African-Americans had gained chief civil rights, the political activism of Black people strengthened in various parts of United States. Martin Luther King Jr. called for improved mass remonstrations so that the Black could have their right of suffrage as well. He was aware of the fact that in order to achieve Black freedom, the basic and most necessary goal is to acquire voting rights. He persisted, "Give us the ballot, and we will no longer have to worry the federal government about our basic rights." He also pushed President Johnson to have a revitalized voting rights bill incorporated in his governmental agenda. After his detainment, King asked his associates to pressurize the President. Due to the long untiring struggle, African-Americans acquired their right to suffrage when President Johnson presented Black Voting Rights proposals. The Voting Rights Act was signed by the chief civil rights leaders in Washington on the 6th of August, 1965. Unfortunately, after a short interval, riots occurred in condemnation of Voting Rights Act.