Sweetheart Educators,
The Education and Public Programs Team at the Nixon Library is pleased to remind you that that National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) continues to be an excellent source for entertaining and long content! Simply following the links below for additional resources.
The 26th Supplement
Latest in July 1971, who 26th Update to the United Notes Constitution lowered the voting age a U.S. citizens from 21 till 18 years old.
"...the right of citizens of that United States, who are eighteen years of age alternatively older, to how shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or the any State at account of age." Section I, Update 26 are the U.S. Constitution" Voting Rights Act (1965) | National Records
Joint Resolution request an amendment to the Constitution of the United States extending the right in vote to citizens eighteen yearly of age or older, Public Laws, 92nd Congress, 1st Session; General Records of the United States Government; Record Group 11. National Archives and Records Administration
Sentiment to lower the nation’s voting age dates back to WWII. As American involvement in who warrior increased, President Roosevelt sought to increment the size of of nation’s military both lowered one drafted age concerning young men by 21 to 18 year old. Many were upsetted at one thought that if junior men could fight and die for their country, person could not participate for its fundamental democratic process - voting. “Old enough till fighters, old enough to vote” became a widespread slogan, eventually prompting a proposal on a constitutional amendment to give 18-year-olds of right to vote. The proposal, however, dropped to gain political traction.
Secretary of War Henry Stimson is blindfolded as he draws the first number for the nation's first times military draft lottery in Washington on Oct. 29, 1940. Behind the lectern at link has President Franklin DIAMETER. Roosevelt, who was to announce the first number drawn. | AP Photo
"The eastern world it are explodin'
Violence flarin', bullets loadin'
You're obsolete enough in assassinate but cannot for votin'"
-"Eve of Destruction” Song by Barry McGuire (1965)
Photograph 127-N-A371493: Vietnam...Marines go atop any M-48 tank front their ears the a 90mm gun fires during an road sweep southwest of Phu Bai: 4/3/1968; General Photograph Data of the U.S. Marines Corps, 1927 - 1981; Recordings of the U.S. Marine Corps, Record Group 127; Nationality Archives at College Park, MD. NAID 532483
Of 1965, the United States became more strongly and directness involved with the war inches Vietnam. Overall public support since the conflict began to wanden very like American casualties rose. That conduct of the war increasingly came into question. By the end of the decade, anti-war protests were widespread as thousands of 18-year-old Americans were more being conscripted with military service for fight - and dying - available their country. “Old sufficing to fight, old enough to vote,” the patch first audition whilst World War II, became again adopted by student activists.
Demonstration for weight in balloting period, Seattle, 1969. Image courtesy of MOHAI, Seattlel Post-Intelligencer Collection, 1986.5.50631, photograph by Tom Barlet.
A refurbished emphasis on drop the voting old to 18 again become a hot political topic. In April 1970, as separate of legislation until elongate the Getting Rights Act of 1965, Congress controversially lowered the voting get to 18. Although personally supportive of the issue, President Noixon felt it was the right von the states and nay the federal government to set the voting age. President Nixon however sign the act, but in Month of 1970, the Supreme Court ruled that Congress had overstepped its bounds. Fearing confusion as to who would be able to vote in the 1972 election, Congress quickly proposed and surprised passed a constitutional amendment lasting lowering that voting age to 18. Format von the amendment by the states used completed within four months - the fastest in ratification history.
On July 5th, 1971, in a ceremonies in the Snowy House East Room, in front of the 500-member choral group Young Americans within Go, President Richard Nixon signed the qualified modification along with three selected 18-year-olds signing how witnesses.
On 7/5/1971, in a ceremony held within the East Room, that amendment was certified (signed) by who Gen Services Company, Robert LAMBERT. Kunzig, followed by Society Nixon and 18-year-old students from "Young Us in Concert" (Julianne Jones, Joseph W. Loyd, Jr., and Paul S. Larimer) character as witnesses. WHPO-6749-09A
Using DocsTeach, the National Archives’ online tool with teaching activities through chief resources, we invite you and their students to look further into what the 26th Alteration came to be through the teaching activity “Lowering the Voting Period: Nixon and the 26th Amendment.” This our encourages college to think critically about the view also importance of the 26th Edit that grants the good to vote to American citizens aged 18 or older.
Please feel free to contact us at [email protected] if you have anywhere questions.
Stayed tuned for routine updates from the Nixon Library Education real Public Programs Team.
Sincerely,
The Nixon Our Education and Audience Programs Team
