Question

what events led to the ratification of the 26th amendment and what rights did it guarantee?

Explanation:

1. Events leading to ratification:

• During the Vietnam War, young men aged 18-20 were drafted into military service but could not vote in most U.S. elections, sparking the slogan "Old enough to fight, old enough to vote" and widespread protest.
• Congress proposed the 26th Amendment in 1971 to lower the national voting age, and state legislatures ratified it quickly (in just 100 days) due to public pressure and legal challenges to age-based voting restrictions.

1. Rights guaranteed:

• The amendment prohibits the U.S. government and any state from denying or abridging the right of U.S. citizens who are 18 years of age or older to vote on account of age.

Answer:

Events leading to ratification:

1. Vietnam War-era protests: 18-20 year olds were drafted for military service but barred from voting, leading to the "Old enough to fight, old enough to vote" movement and widespread public outcry.
2. Congressional proposal and rapid state ratification: Congress proposed the amendment in March 1971, and it was ratified by 3/4 of U.S. states by July 1971, the fastest ratification of any constitutional amendment.

Rights guaranteed:

The 26th Amendment guarantees the right to vote to all U.S. citizens who are 18 years of age or older, and prohibits the federal government or any state from denying this right based on age.