Final answer:
The subject is History, regarding the expansion of voting rights in the 19th century, specifically the removal of property ownership as a requirement for voting which lead to an increase in universal white manhood suffrage, although racial restrictions were still imposed.
Step-by-step explanation:
Expansion of Suffrage in the 19th Century
The early nineteenth century was a period marked by significant changes in voting rights in the United States, particularly the removal of property ownership as a requirement for voting. Initially, many state constitutions employed property qualifications to limit democratic influences, but the tide began to turn with the decline in Federalist power and the rising demand from non-property-owning white men for broader suffrage rights.
By 1830, ten states had established universal white manhood suffrage, allowing any white male adult to vote without regard to property ownership or tax payments. Other states followed suit by either requiring voters to be taxpayers or connecting the right to vote with military service. The era saw varied progress; while Vermont became notable for eliminating all property and taxpaying qualifications, other states like New York, initially inclusive, later imposed restrictions that effectively disenfranchised free black men by instituting steep property requirements.
States also explored different mechanisms to exclude certain groups from voting. New Jersey retracted voting rights from women property holders, while multiple states banned paupers and felons from voting. Furthermore, voting rights were conditioned on race in the North, with several states disenfranchising free black men, marking a racial orientation to American democracy during this period. Despite these regressive measures, the nineteenth century overall witnessed a significant expansion of suffrage for white men, laying the groundwork for future endeavors in enfranchisement.