Question

Both Lyndon B. Johnson and Frederick Douglass state that the universal right to vote is a founding principle of the United States. How do they interpret this fact differently?

1) Johnson believes that the founding fathers intended for all people to vote; Douglass notes that the founding fathers denied the vote to many.
2) Johnson uses the principle as evidence that voter discrimination is illegal; Douglass uses it as evidence that black people used to be allowed to vote.
3) Johnson notes hopefully that the United States continues to expand that right; Douglass describes grimly how black citizens could be seen as more equal under a monarchy.
4) Johnson sees the principle as evidence that Congress must guarantee voting rights; Douglass sees it as evidence that voting rights are already in place.

Answer 1

Johnson and Douglass both acknowledge the foundational principle of the universal right to vote in the United States but interpret it differently. Johnson sees it as an evolving principle extending to more citizens over time, while Douglass focuses on the historical reality of exclusion despite these democratic ideals.

Step-by-step explanation:

Both Lyndon B. Johnson and Frederick Douglass recognize the universal right to vote as a principle foundation of the United States, but they interpret its historical applications quite differently. Johnson views the founding fathers' intent as one where all people would eventually be granted the right to vote, adhering to the optimistic vision of the nation's growth and ongoing expansion of suffrage. In contrast, Douglass points to the more pragmatic and somber reality that the founding fathers excluded many from this right, acknowledging that African Americans and women had been denied the vote despite the principle that suggests the contrary.

Johnson's perspective is rooted in the advancements and legislative efforts, like the 15th and 19th Amendments, which extended voting rights to Black citizens and women respectively, building upon the ideals to form a more inclusive democracy. Alternatively, Douglass emphasized the discrepancy between the founding ideals and the harsh historical exclusions, using it to argue the need to protect and fight for the voting rights of African Americans specifically.