Suffrage and Civil Rights

I. 15th Amendment InsufficientA. Why? Federal government did not enforceB. Tactics

1. Violence, social pressure 2. White primaries, gerrymandering, literacy

tests, poll taxesC. Correcting

1. The Supreme Court2. Legislation (Congress doing something)

a) Voting Rights Act of 1965

Suffrage and Civil Rights

Voting Behavior

Voting Behavior

How many Americans vote?

Voting Behavior

I. Comparatively low voter turnout in the U.S.A. We vote a lotB. We vote for a lot of stuff (ballot fatigue)C. “cannot voters”D. Political efficacyE. Registration (mandatory / automatic in some

other nations)F. Lack of interest

Voting Behavior

Voting Behavior

Voting Behavior

Voting Behavior

II. Voter turnout by groupsA. Age

1. Vested interest – Social security2. More politically socialized3. Big day – ride the bus and go to McDonald’s

Voting Behavior

Voting Behavior

Voting Behavior

II. Voter turnout by groupsA. Age

1. Vested interest – Social security2. More politically socialized3. Big day – ride the bus and go to McDonald’s

B. Education1. Able to distinguish between candidates2. Able to overcome obstacles (registration, etc.)

Voting Behavior

Voting Behavior

Voting Behavior

II. Voter turnout by groupsA. Age

1. Vested interest – Social security2. More politically socialized3. Big day – ride the bus and go to McDonald’s

B. Education1. Able to distinguish between candidates2. Able to overcome obstacles (registration, etc.)

C. Race – tracks with education

Voting Behavior

Voting Behavior

Voting Behavior

II. Voter turnout by groupsA. Age

1. Vested interest – Social security2. More politically socialized3. Big day – ride the bus and go to McDonald’s

B. Education1. Able to distinguish between candidates2. Able to overcome obstacles (registration, etc.)

C. Race – tracks with educationD. Married / Gender

1. Ties to community (married)2. Increases level of responsibility (married)3. Government benefits (women)

Voting Behavior

Voting Behavior

Voting Behavior

Voting Behavior

How do Americans decide who to vote for?

Voting Behavior

III. The Voting DecisionA. Religion / frequencyB. RaceC. GenderD. AgeE. EducationF. Income / occupationG. Geography / communities

Voting Behavior

Voting Behavior

Voting Behavior

III. The Voting DecisionA. Religion / frequencyB. RaceC. GenderD. AgeE. EducationF. Income / occupationG. Geography / communitiesH. PartyI. Image and policy

Voting Behavior