As an expert on voting rights in the United States, I am well aware that when most people think of this topic, they immediately think of the Civil Rights Movement and the fight for equal voting rights for African Americans. However, the struggle for voting rights was not limited to just one group of people. In East Tennessee, there were several groups that were initially excluded from exercising their right to vote.
The African American Community
The most well-known group that was excluded from voting rights in East Tennessee was the African American community. Prior to the Civil War, slavery was legal in Tennessee and African Americans were not allowed to vote.Even after the 15th Amendment was passed in 1870, which granted African American men the right to vote, many states, including Tennessee, found ways to prevent them from exercising this right. One of the ways this was done was through literacy tests and poll taxes. These were used to prevent African Americans from registering to vote by requiring them to pass a literacy test or pay a tax in order to vote. These tests were often designed to be impossible for African Americans to pass and the poll taxes were too expensive for many to afford. It wasn't until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that these discriminatory practices were finally abolished and African Americans were able to fully exercise their right to vote in East Tennessee.
Women
Another group that was initially excluded from voting rights in East Tennessee was women. Prior to 1920, women were not allowed to vote in any state in the United States.It wasn't until the 19th Amendment was passed that women were granted the right to vote. However, even after this amendment was passed, many women in East Tennessee still faced barriers when trying to register to vote. Some states required women to have their husband's permission in order to register, while others required them to pass a literacy test or pay a poll tax. It wasn't until the 1960s that these discriminatory practices were finally abolished and women were able to fully exercise their right to vote.
Native Americans
Native Americans were also initially excluded from voting rights in East Tennessee. Prior to the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, Native Americans were not considered citizens of the United States and therefore were not allowed to vote.Even after this act was passed, many states still found ways to prevent Native Americans from voting. In Tennessee, Native Americans were required to give up their tribal affiliations and adopt "civilized" ways of life in order to be granted citizenship and the right to vote. This requirement was not lifted until 1948, when all Native Americans were finally granted citizenship and the right to vote.
Young Adults
In the early years of the United States, only white male property owners were allowed to vote. This meant that young adults, who did not own property, were excluded from voting rights. It wasn't until the 26th Amendment was passed in 1971 that the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18, granting young adults the right to vote.Convicted Felons
In East Tennessee, convicted felons were also initially excluded from voting rights.Prior to 1981, anyone convicted of a felony was permanently disenfranchised and not allowed to vote. However, in 1981, Tennessee passed a law that restored voting rights to convicted felons who had completed their sentences. Unfortunately, this law was later overturned in 2006 and Tennessee once again disenfranchised convicted felons. It wasn't until 2019 that a new law was passed, allowing convicted felons to regain their voting rights after completing their sentences.
The Fight for Equal Voting Rights
The exclusion of these groups from voting rights in East Tennessee is a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equal voting rights in the United States. While progress has been made, there are still barriers that prevent certain groups from fully exercising their right to vote. It is important to continue fighting for equal voting rights for all individuals, regardless of race, gender, age, or criminal history.Every person's voice deserves to be heard and their vote should count.
In Conclusion
The fight for voting rights in East Tennessee was not limited to just one group of people. African Americans, women, Native Americans, young adults, and convicted felons were all initially excluded from exercising their right to vote. It wasn't until the passing of various laws and amendments that these groups were finally granted equal voting rights. However, the fight for equal voting rights is far from over. It is important to continue advocating for the removal of any barriers that prevent individuals from fully exercising their right to vote.Only then can we truly say that everyone's voice is being heard and represented in our democracy.
