The Bradshaw Library's
Archives & Special Collections presents
Fight for the Ballot: Voting Rights in the 20th Century
Fight for the Ballot: Voting Rights in the 20th Century commemorates the centennial of the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which granted women the right to vote. The suffragettes’ civil rights triumph was the first constitutional amendment that granted voting rights to another demographic aside from land-owning males. In honor of those who fought and continue to fight for equal access to the ballot the FGCU Bradshaw Library will run a year-long exhibition dedicated to the many voting rights struggles which persisted throughout the twentieth century, particularly for communities of Black, indigenous, and people of color.
The history of the fight for ballot access in the United States is long and bloody. As our guests experience Fight for the Ballot, we invite them to reflect on America’s legacy and to honor the courage of their fellow Americans in demanding their constitutional guarantees for themselves and their children. Through their victories, we live up to our country’s founding principle: that all men and women are created equal.
For further insights on ballot access from civil rights leaders and scholars check out our Events Page or go to our Facebook page.
Dive into the exhibit below!
1924
Native Americans are granted citizenship and the right to vote through the Indian Citizenship Act, regardless of tribal affiliation.
1943
Chinese immigrants are given the right to citizenship and the right to vote by the Magnuson Act.
1965
Protection of voter registration and voting for racial minorities is established by the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
1971
Adults aged 18 through 21 are granted the right to vote by the 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
1980
Actor Ronald Reagan becomes 40th President of the United States, forever interwining politics with the cult of personality.
Next: Explore Women's Suffrage - the 19th Amendment
The Bradshaw Library's Archives and Special Collections' fundraising efforts have been significantly impacted due to the COVID crisis.
When making a contribution please be sure to select “library archives“ for your gift designation. We thank you so much for your support!
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