The History of Voting Rights in the United States of America

The History of Voting Rights in the United States of America The United States of America is often regarded as the ideal of universal suffrage by other countries around the world. However, many American politicians and activists still argue that there is still room for changes in some vital areas of the government’s core units.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The History of Voting Rights in the United States of America specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Constitutional rights on voting are indeed one of those sectors that have been accorded great concern in the U.S. history (Donald, 1998). As it would be observed, the U.S. Constitution guarantees for overall protection of peoples’ liberties, which are executed through the guideline and requirement of the Bill of Rights. The fundamental right of taking part in the voting exercise, as we all know, offers every American citizen the opportunity to actively take part in the republican form of government within the st ates. Definite triumphs are common in the United States nowadays owing to the big concerns that are currently addressed to the overall civil and voting rights. This paper provides an in-depth outline of the history of the voting rights in the U.S. in regard with Constitutional amendments that have been witnessed so far in the sector. More importantly, some of the major challenges to equal and fair voting facing the country at state, federal, and local elections are also discussed in this essay. The issue regarding the provision of civil rights protecting people from the interference of government as well as the provision of those civil rights which guarantees people equal participation in a democratic world has always been a matter of concern to many political scholars and activists. The American voting rights has been a contentious issue in the country’s past. Eligibility to take part in the voting exercise can be determined by both state and Federal law and presently, only citizens are eligible to vote in America. This however, has not always been the case. When the U.S. finally achieved its independence in 1776, only one category of people; white, property-owning males would enjoy a massive voice in the government (Bickel, 1966). The franchise was denied to women and all other people of color in the states.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This would actually raise much concern as people started realizing the value of the lacking freedom and slowly, a steady march towards attaining freedom and justice for everyone would begin resulting into major amendments that would see other citizens taking part in the significant exercise. The 14th Amendment to the Federal Constitution was passed in the year 1886, offering the right of citizenship to former slaves and changing them to whole persons of the country (Dinnerstein and Reimers, 1975). Come in 1869 , the 15th Amendment was passed allowing the black men to take part in the voting practice. However, most women of all races were still unable to play a role in the exercise. 1869 would also mark the beginning of another era known as ‘Black Codes’ which placed a restriction on the rights and freedom of African Americans in various sectors, among them the freedom to exercise their right to vote. Restriction strategies such as poll taxes, literary tests, economic pressures and threat of physical violence intended to suppress these categories from voting were observed to be common within the Black Codes. This however, was a short-lived practice in the changing world of the U.S. politics and with time, the Constitution would successfully make voting in the U.S. an exercise for all. Initiatives to promote the role of women in the voting exercise can be traced back to the 1770s through the early 1800s. Various conventions and movements advocating for women rights would take p lace and come in 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution would accord women the freedom to take part in the U.S. voting exercise. Some interim changes to immigration and naturalization laws in 1940s and 1950s would also open the practice to some categories but not every Asian Pacific American. The final barriers to minority voting rights in the U.S. ultimately came in the year 1965, following the enactment of the legislation that did not only enforce the 15th Amendment but that would enact a countrywide prohibition on aspects limiting voting rights for minorities across the states. However, regardless of these significant amendments, the American youth still lacked the right to vote and it was not until the passage of the 26th Amendment in July, 1971 when they were able to do so following the reduction of the minimum voting age from 21 to 18 years of age. Today, the American youth just like anybody else have the right to fully appreciate both their duty and right to elect their leaders and representatives in the government (Fowler, 2007).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The History of Voting Rights in the United States of America specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, no matter these significant federal legislation and amendments in the U.S. Constitution on the voting rights, there are still some notable challenges to equal and fair execution of the exercise. Among the major challenges is the race/gender issue whereby elective positions, entitlements and other benefits come with one’s status and culture in the class-divided society of America. Unequal and unfair voting practice in the modern U.S. is also likely to result from various attitudes directed towards diverse population where immigrants have limited rights or even no rights at all compared to genuine American citizens. Another big challenge here is that, many people would be opposed to any form of affirmative action sim ply for their belief that it is likely to violate a sense of fairness. These are some of the drawbacks facing fair and equal voting in modern U.S. and this is the time for strong affirmative actions to be undertaken towards correcting such inequalities, for a better America. References Bickel, A. (1966). The Voting Rights Cases. The Supreme Court Review, 1966 (67), 79-102. Dinnerstein, L. and Reimers, D. (1975). Ethnic Americans: A history of immigration and assimilation. History: Reviews of New Books, 4 (1), 17-17. Donald, G. (1998). An Introduction to Arizona History and Government. 6th Ed. New York: Pearson Custom Publishing. Fowler, K. (2007). Deceptive Voting Practices and Voter Intimidation in the Wake of United States v. Charleston County. Charleston L. Rev, 2 (17), 733.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More

Definition and Examples of Compound-Complex Sentences

Definition and Examples of Compound-Complex Sentences In English grammar, a compound-complex sentence is a  sentence with two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. Also known as a  complex-compound sentence. The compound-complex sentence is one of the four basic sentence structures. The other structures are the simple sentence, the compound sentence, and the complex sentence. Examples and Observations The compound-complex sentence is so named because it shares the characteristics of both compound and complex sentences. Like the compound sentence, the compound-complex has two main clauses. Like the complex sentence, it has at least one subordinate clause. The subordinate clause can be part of an independent clause.(Random House Websters Pocket Grammar, Usage, and Punctuation, 2007)His blue eyes were light, bright and sparkling behind half-mooned spectacles, and his nose was very long and crooked, as though it had been broken at least twice.(J.K. Rowling,  Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. Scholastic, 1998)The door of the morning room was open as I went through the hall, and I caught a glimpse of Uncle Tom messing about with his collection of old silver.(P.G. Wodehouse, The Code of the Woosters, 1938)All of us are egotists to some extent, but most of us- unlike the jerk- are perfectly and horribly aware of it when we make asses of ourselves. (Sidney J. Harris, A Jerk, 1961) Those are my principles, and if you dont like them . . . well, I have others.(Groucho Marx)The Druids used mistletoe in ceremonies of human sacrifice, but most of all the evergreen became a symbol of fertility because it flourished in winter when other plants withered. (Sian Ellis, Englands Ancient Special Twig. British Heritage, January 2001)We operate under a jury system in this country, and as much as we complain about it, we have to admit that we know of no better system, except possibly flipping a coin.(Dave Barry, Dave Barrys Guide to Marriage and/or Sex, 1987)She gave me another of those long keen looks, and I could see that she was again asking herself if her favourite nephew wasnt steeped to the tonsils in the juice of the grape. (P.G. Wodehouse, Plum Pie, 1966)In America everybody is of the opinion that he has no social superiors, since all men are equal, but he does not admit that he has no social inferiors, for, from the time of Jefferson onward, the doctrine that all men are equal applies only upwards, not downwards.(Bertrand Russell, Unpopular Essays, 1930) How,  Why, and When to Use Compound-Complex Sentences The compound-complex sentence consists of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. This syntactic shape is essential in representing complex relationships and so is frequently put to use in various forms of analytical writing, especially in academic writing. It is also probably true that the ability to use compound-complex sentences elevates a writers credibility: it demonstrates that he or she can bring together in a single sentence a range of different pieces of information and order them in relationship to each other. This is not to say that the compound-complex sentence invites confusion: on the contrary, when handled carefully, it has the opposite effect- it clarifies the complexity and enables readers to see it clearly.(David Rosenwasser and Jill Stephen, Writing Analytically, 6th ed. Wadsworth, 2012)Compound-complex sentences get unwieldy in a hurry. So clear writers minimize their use, generally restricting them to no more than 10 percent of their wo rk.But varying the sentence structures in a piece makes it more interesting, and writers who care about rhythm will stray from the simpler forms to mix in compound sentences now and then. (Jack Hart, A Writers Coach: The Complete Guide to Writing Strategies That Work. Anchor, 2006) Compound-complex sentences are  used infrequently in business messages because of their length. (Jules Harcourt et al.,  Business Communication, 3rd ed.  South-Western Educational, 1996) Punctuating Compound-Complex Sentences If a compound or a compound-complex sentence has one or more commas in the first clause, you may want to use a semicolon before the coordinating conjunction between the two clauses. Its purpose is to show the reader very clearly the division between the two independent clauses. (Lee Brandon and  Kelly Brandon,  Sentences, Paragraphs, and Beyond, 7th ed. Wadsworth, 2013)For in the end, freedom is a personal and lonely battle;  and one faces down fears of today so that those of tomorrow might be engaged. (Alice Walker, Choosing to Stay at Home Ten Years After the March on Washington, 1973.  In Search of Our Mothers Gardens, 1983)