a) The 13th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1865, abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. This amendment made our society more democratic by extending the rights and protections of the Constitution to all people, regardless of their race or previous status as slaves.
b) The 14th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1868, established the principle of citizenship for all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and guaranteed equal protection under the law to all citizens. This amendment made our society more democratic by providing a clear legal definition of citizenship and by ensuring that all citizens are treated equally under the law.
c) The 15th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1870, prohibited the denial of the right to vote on the basis of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. This amendment made our society more democratic by extending the franchise to all male citizens, regardless of their race or previous status as slaves.
d) The 17th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1913, established the direct election of United States senators by the people of each state. This amendment made our society more democratic by allowing the people to directly elect their representatives in the Senate, rather than allowing state legislatures to appoint senators.
e) The 19th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1920, prohibited the denial of the right to vote on the basis of sex. This amendment made our society more democratic by extending the franchise to women, who had previously been denied the right to vote in many states.
f) The 26th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1971, lowered the voting age to 18. This amendment made our society more democratic by allowing young adults who are old enough to fight in wars to also have a say in the decisions that affect their lives through the right to vote.