How is the Twenty-sixth Amendment an example of a coalition’s impact on government practices?

Question

A) Demonstrations influenced government to created Sunshine Laws to report public information.
B) Demonstrations influenced government to make voting legal for citizens 18 years of age or older.
C) Demonstrations influenced government to protect against gender discrimination.
D) Demonstrations influenced government to grant military combat roles to women.

Answer 1

The correct answer is B) Demonstrations influenced government to make voting legal for citizens 18 years of age or older.

The Twenty-sixth Amendment, ratified in 1971, lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. This change was largely a result of demonstrations and activism, particularly during the Vietnam War era, where young people argued that if they were old enough to be drafted into military service, they should also have the right to vote. This amendment exemplifies the impact of a coalition of young activists and broader societal movements on government practices, particularly regarding voting rights.