Question

The amendment process expanded the principle of __________ by extending the right to vote to former slaves, women and people aged 18 to 20?

1) Democracy
2) Equality
3) Freedom
4) Justice

Answer 1

The amendment process expanded democracy by extending voting rights to former slaves with the Fifteenth Amendment, to women with the Nineteenth Amendment, and to individuals aged 18 to 20 with the Twenty-Sixth Amendment.The correct option is 1.

Step-by-step explanation:

The amendment process expanded the principle of democracy by extending the right to vote to former slaves, women, and people aged 18 to 20. Over time, societal change has influenced constitutional amendments, leading to an expansion of suffrage rights.

Initially, only land-holding white males could vote, but as the middle and working classes grew, rights to vote expanded through significant amendments. Chief among these were the Fifteenth Amendment (1870), Nineteenth Amendment (1920), and Twenty-Sixth Amendment (1971). These amendments respectively removed voting restrictions based on race, gender, and age, reflecting progress in societal values and enhancing democracy in the United States.

Despite these amendments, challenges remained, and efforts at voter suppression persisted, prompting further legislative actions such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the abolition of poll taxes with the Twenty-Fourth Amendment (1964).