Both Lyndon B. Johnson and Frederick Douglass state that the universal right to vote is a founding principle of the United States.

Question

How do they interpret this fact differently?

Section from President Lyndon B. Johnson's Special Message to the Congress: The American Promise

Excerpt from "What the Black Man Wants"

Responses

Johnson sees the principle as evidence that Congress must guarantee voting rights; Douglass sees it as evidence that voting rights are already in place.
Johnson sees the principle as evidence that Congress must guarantee voting rights; Douglass sees it as evidence that voting rights are already in place.

Johnson uses the principle as evidence that voter discrimination is illegal; Douglass uses it as evidence that black people used to be allowed to vote.
Johnson uses the principle as evidence that voter discrimination is illegal; Douglass uses it as evidence that black people used to be allowed to vote.

Johnson believes that the Founding Fathers intended for all people to vote; Douglass notes that the Founding Fathers denied the vote to many.
Johnson believes that the Founding Fathers intended for all people to vote; Douglass notes that the Founding Fathers denied the vote to many.

Johnson notes hopefully that the United States continues to expand that right; Douglass describes grimly how black citizens could be seen as more equal under a monarchy.
Johnson notes hopefully that the United States continues to expand that right; Douglass describes grimly how black citizens could be seen as more equal under a monarchy.
Skip to navigation

Answer 1

Lyndon B. Johnson and Frederick Douglass both emphasize the universal right to vote as a fundamental principle of the United States, yet they interpret its implications in contrasting ways.

1. View on Legislative Action vs. Existing Rights: Johnson sees the principle of universal suffrage as a call for Congress to actively guarantee voting rights, highlighting the ongoing struggle against voter discrimination and the need for legislative safeguards. In contrast, Douglass points out that the principle should already imply that voting rights exist, yet he acknowledges that these rights have historically been denied to many, particularly Black Americans.

2. Inclusivity vs. Historical Exclusion: Johnson expresses a belief that the Founding Fathers intended for all people to be included in the democratic process and sees the expansion of voting rights as a progressive achievement. On the other hand, Douglass is critical of the Founders, emphasizing that they denied the right to vote to substantial portions of the population, particularly enslaved individuals and free Blacks, thus highlighting the hypocrisy of the foundational ideals.

3. Optimism vs. Realism: Johnson speaks from a hopeful perspective about the future of voting rights in the United States, indicating progress and the continued expansion of these rights. Douglass, however, presents a more somber view, pointing out that the social and political realities for Black Americans often render them less equal even in a supposed democracy, and he contrasts this situation with the potential rights of citizens under a monarchy.

In summary, while both recognize voting as a cornerstone of democracy, Johnson focuses on the efforts needed to ensure its availability to all, while Douglass critiques the historical and ongoing barriers to true equality in voting rights.