The United States declared independence

Voting rights were primarily limited to property-owning white men

The U.S. Constitution was drafted

Voting rights were left to the states, with no establishment of universal suffrage

The Seneca Falls Convention was held

Women’s suffrage was articulated as a political demand for the first time in a systematic manner

The 14th Amendment was ratified

It established birthright citizenship and the principle of equal protection under the law

The 15th Amendment was ratified

It prohibited the denial of voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude (in law)

Southern states progressively revised their election laws

Poll taxes, literacy tests, and other voting barriers were introduced

African American voters were excluded on a large scale through formally legal mechanisms

The 19th Amendment was ratified

Women gained the right to vote, though racial minorities continued to face systemic barriers

The first federal Civil Rights Act was passed

The federal government reasserted its role in protecting voting rights

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The Civil Rights Act was passed

Racial discrimination in public spaces was prohibited

The Voting Rights Act was passed

The federal government was authorized to oversee election practices in jurisdictions with histories of discrimination

The 26th Amendment was ratified

The voting age was lowered to 18

The Voting Rights Act was amended

Protections were expanded to include language minority voters

The Voting Rights Act was reauthorized and amended

Restrictions on racial gerrymandering and indirect forms of discrimination were strengthened

The Supreme Court issued its decision in

Bush v. Gore

Nationwide debate emerged regarding ballots, vote counting, and electoral fairness

The Supreme Court issued its decision in

Shelby County v. Holder

Key federal preclearance provisions of the Voting Rights Act were weakened

Voter turnout in the U.S. presidential election increased significantly

Mail-in voting and voting accessibility became major public policy issues

States adopted divergent legislative approaches regarding election security and voting access

Voting rights remained a central issue in public and political discourse