Structure and Style in The Smithsonian's History of America in 101 Objects
Question 2 • CA-English Language Arts 12 B – 1744
Read the excerpt from Suffragists' "Great Demand" Banner.From colonial times to the American independence movement and the writing of the U.S. Constitution, voting rights had been restricted. Each colony had made its own rules about who could vote, and this practice continued once they became states. Requirements generally called for a certain age of maturity, generally twenty-one, and ownership of property, among other qualifications. Younger adults, Indians, African Americans, and women were typically disqualified from voting. While there were stirrings for the right of women to vote in the early nineteenth century, the cause took on a new seriousness with the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848.
Answer
A
describe colonial voting practices in context.
B
explain the reason for a voting age requirement.
C
provide information about the 1848 convention.
D
give an overview of voting rights in early America.
Explanation
The excerpt summarizes voting rights from colonial times through the early nineteenth century, noting that rules varied by colony and that many groups—including younger adults, Indigenous people, African Americans, and women—were excluded. It also mentions the growing movement for women’s suffrage. This broad summary makes “give an overview of voting rights in early America” the best answer; it does not explain why the voting age was set at twenty-one or provide details about the Seneca Falls Convention.
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