Final answer:
The ability to vote in the thirteen colonies was not uniform, with most colonies restricting suffrage to adult white males who met property or tax qualifications and restricting individuals based on religion. Over time, these restrictions evolved, and by 1790, religious requirements were removed, and some states allowed free African Americans to vote, with New Jersey uniquely allowing single women suffrage for a period.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ability to vote in the thirteen colonies varied, with property ownership and/or tax payments often required as a qualification to participate in voting. Religious restrictions also influenced voting rights, with Catholics and Jews being barred from voting in several colonies. Over time, each colony developed its own set of rules regarding who could vote, but it was generally limited to adult white males who met certain property or tax criteria.
In terms of the colonies' stance during the Revolution, the colonists were divided among wanting independence, remaining part of the British Empire, or remaining neutral. After the Declaration of Independence, each state drafted and ratified its own constitution, allowing for a republican form of government with the right to vote limited to free (white) men. The central government's power was limited to prevent abuse of rights.
By 1790, all states had removed religious qualifications for voting, and six states allowed free African Americans to vote. However, other restrictions remained, and no state permitted slaves, servants, felons, or the mentally disabled to vote, with the notable exception of New Jersey which allowed single women suffrage for a time. The conversation regarding women's suffrage continued, highlighting evolving views on voting rights.