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the 26th amendment
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Rachael Garber The 26th Amendment Everyone in America who is over 18 is eligible to vote, no matter what race or gender they may be. In 1868 however only white, protestant, male property owners over 21 years of age had the privilege to vote. This was because the founders of America gave free rights to vote only to people like themselves, which were young white males. The magic age of 21 came about in medieval times. Knights in Europe believed if you were able to carry the heavy armor you were strong enough to take on the duties of a man. This was most often at age 21 and became known as the age of responsibility. Many young adults would son try to change this “unfair” age for voting. The idea to lower the voting age to 18 was first proposed in World War II. The idea was ignored all the way up until the Vietnam War. Many states decided to reconsider the voting age and the idea of an amendment in the Constitution was not far away. During World War II the draft age was lowered to 18. Republican senator Arthur Landenberg and Democratic Representative Randolph Jennings proposed an amendment in response. They brought to the attention of many young soldiers that ¼ of the Army, ½ of the Marine Corps, and over 1/3 of the Navy consisted of men under 21.
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