Prior to the 26th amendment, states determined the legal age requirements for citizens who would be eligible to vote. In times of war, particularly the Vietnam war, many young men were being drafted for military service at age 18, yet were denied the right to vote until age 21. Thus, many who served in the armed forces were prevented from consenting to the war by vote. In 1971, the 26th amendment lowered the national voting age to 18.
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LOC Resource
LOC Title
Constitution Annotated- 26th Amendment
LOC Short Description
This website presents the U.S. Constitution broken down by articles and amendments, annotated with a section on the 26th Amendment.
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Posters: Yanker Poster Collection
LOC Short Description
A collection of over 3,000 political and propaganda posters and flyers, mostly from the 1960s and 1970s, with many related to the Vietnam War.
LOC Title
Cartoon Drawings: Herblock Collection
LOC Short Description
A collection of political cartoons by the influential cartoonist Herbert L. Block (Herblock), dating 1929-2001, with many related to the Vietnam War.