Right To Vote Dbq

Prior to the 1790 Pennsylvania Constitution the only citizens of Pennsylvania that were aloud to vote were wealthy men. Wealthy men, not just wealthy white men, all men with a significant amount of money and land were permitted to vote. When poor citizens began to have the right to vote as well is when the shift from class based discrimination changed to racial discrimination. In the 1790 Pennsylvania Constitution Article three stated “In elections by the citizens, every freeman of the age of twenty-one years, having resided in the state two years next before the election, and within that time paid a state or county tax, which shall have been assessed at least six months before the election, shall enjoy the rights of an elector…” Depending

on who was reading, this could be the first time allowing free black men to vote. The Pennsylvania constitution of 1790 left out the qualifications and race needed to vote. “Freeman” has no reference to race according to many anti-slavery activists would say. While pro-slavery affiliates assume that any reference to a freeman means a white man. Until 1870 when the fifteenth amendment was created African Americans and abolitionists would be fighting and arguing for the right to vote for a free black man.

The Pennsylvania Abolition Act of 1780 was the first step abolishing slavery. The Act prohibited further importation of slaves into the state. When the political right of freed blacks to vote came up this act and its affiliates made no comment on what should be done concerning it . In 1789 a constitutional convention was held to revise the issue, and clarify the wording. Anti-black delegates wanted to insert a clause limiting the right to only adult white males . The proposal was declined because fear of construing the clause to disenfranchise “dark skin caucasians” (*****) . The legislature then continued to avoid dealing with the conflict.

The lack of specifics in the constitution, left their voting rights up to the discretion of local officials rather than the goverment as a whole. African Americans could vote in Bucks, York, Dauphin and a few other countries but were still banned in Philadelphia, the county with the largest black population in Pennsylvania. Officials in Philadelphia refused to assess colored men for the purpose of taxation, therefore denying them any right to vote. The lack of policy caused pro-suffrage and anti-suffrage to press for clarification. Hostilities begin to increase as time goes on, like riots, local fights and pitions.

Efforts to deprive African Americans of their voting rights spread after the 1837 election in Bucks county.

The Whigs and the Democrats were competing for county commissioner. The Democrats were defeated and blamed their loss of the fact that blacks were allowed to vote in Bucks county. They tried to reverse the results by making African American votes illegal. Democrats claimed blacks who went to the voting polls used guns and threatened to shoot, their accusations had no detail and no proof(****). Benjamin Lundy, an anislave publisher noted that voting day was held on the first day of hunting season so many blacks and whites were seen with their guns at the voting polls(****). Many disregarded what Lundy wrote and accepted the fake story. The democrats gained more support and with more support comes more power. Once they had the support the democrats took it to court. Judge John Fox declared that blacks did not have the right to vote in Bucks county anymore. But that wasn't good enough freed slaves still had to much influence. The issue then moved to the Supreme Court. Chief Justice John B. Gibson reached the same conclusion. African Americans were “inferior” and thus didn't deserve the right to vote. Yet again so called “free” Africans Americans denied political

equivalence.

Through repeated defeat they don’t give up.

African Americans continue to fight and object at several more conventions and public meetings. In January of 1838 John R. Ross argued that giving freed slaves the right to vote could affect the security and the happiness of everyday life. He thought that african americans could not and should not vote because they had no concept of civil liberty. The black community supporter Peter A. Jay emphasised that african americans have committed no crime. They are being persecuted just on the color of their skin. He also made the point that both Virginia and North Carolina allowed free people of color to vote. Another advocate Robert Purvis created a document discussing why people of color have the same voting rights as their white counterparts. He appealed in March of 1838. Claiming african americans were proud to be pennsylian and should be able to contribute to its democracy. At this time 18,768 people of color lived in Pennsylvania. They contribute over 1,350,000 in taxes, they are stimulating the economy with home ownership and renting. Though these acts don't bring immediate success they are steps towards political

freedom.

After pushing and pushing for years african american finally get a break, the Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln allows people of color to unlist in the army. Many people took this opportunity and served with great courage. Their actions in war became the foundation for arguments against those who wanted to deny african americans the right to vote. Abolists and other supporters questioned the irony that these men who bravely fought were still being denied full citizen rights.

In an effort to obtain equal political rights blacks formed organizations such as the National Equal Rights League. Black Pennsylvanians obvisouly supported these oganizations because they had their best interest in mind. The Pennsylvania State Equal Rights League continued to press for legislation to obtain any kind of political influence for black citizens. During the winter of 1868-1869 the national Republican leadership decided to switch their position and to support a constitutional amendment guaranteeing blacks the right to vote. This decision was based upon political not humanitarian concerns. Republicans wanted to ensure their domination of Congress by protecting black voters in the South. For them the aamendment would enfranchise northern blacks who were expected to vote Republican. This would improve their clances in winning in states where it is more envenly divieded between the and democrats. Republican legislators now lined up in support of black voting rights.

After the restricted discussion of the amendment, the Pennsylvania Senate quickly approved it by a partisan vote on March 11, 1869 and two weeks later the house followed in there steps. Governor Geary immediately signed the resolution ratifying the amendment, making Pennsylvania the fourteenth state to approve it. A year later on March 30, 1870, Secretary of State Hamilton Fish declared it to be part of the Constitution.

The reaction of pro slavery whites was hostile and dangerous. Immediately after the Pennsylvania legislature approved the amendment, law makers recieved over one hunderd petitions objecting the amendment. Many of the people resorted to violence as a resolt of what they thought was a betrayal. In April, 1870, a group of men in Philadelphia stoned peaceful black families who were returning from a celebration of their newly gained rights. When black Pennsylvanians had the opportunity to finally exercise their right to vote in the autumn of 1870, fewer of them came to the polls than expected. This was contributed to many black men feeling it was too difficult to vote . For example, in Philadelphia voting officials required blacks to have two white citizens vouch for their qualifications before they were permitted to register .In spite of problems and threats, some black men were able to use their newly granted rights.

The frustration and difficuty caused many of them to stop voting. However as time passed the bias against black Pennsylvians voting began to lessen when whites realized that political equality would not lead to an over taking of black surprecy in the goverment . Overall there were no intense fights or riots at first. Considering that there were many deep-seated prejudice of many whites, it is surprising that the 1870 elections passed without serious incident. . Unfortunately, the 1871 elections did not go as well as the year before. In Philadelphia that year there was a huge struggle between the two major parties. This caused Republicans to try and recruit the newly righted voters to the polls. The Democrats tried to counter this strategy by appealing to the basest prejudices of whites. On election day the tensions between both Republicans and Democrats, and African americans and Caucausins. All through Philidelphia trouble was begining to start. In the eleventh division of the fifth ward, black voters charged the police with intimidation. Shortly after fights broke out in the seventh ward after a black man was refused the right to vote. Violence and disorder quickly spread to other voting poll areas and mobs of whites attacked black voters. Police started to break up the mobs but by that time three men were dead and forty others hoapitized. Law enforment failed to aprehend the suspects.

The election day riots were blammed on Mayor Fox’s inability to provided his african american citizens with proper protection. Governor Geary had also been blammed for contributed to the spread of violence by refusing to permit federal troops to be used to maintain order. After this inncendent both political parties realized that black voters held alot of influence on the poles.

By the turn of the century, blacks who voted did so without hindrance. Through trials and tribulations it finally seemed as though African Americans were able to vote. Their influence help guide the laws to desegrate schools and public faculities. The history of their voting rights though long and rigous was not only benifical of the African American community but the state as a whole bringing the citizens who live there closer together with the same political influence.