Introduction
The US Constitution is one of the most commonly discussed documents in American history, from its creation at the end of the 18th century till its last amendment at the beginning of the 1990s. Among various bills and propositions given by the representatives of the Democratic and Republican Parties, only 27 amendments were officially approved and ratified, contributing to the country’s progress.
This paper will pay attention to three amendments of the 20th century. The 16th Amendment authorized income taxes in 1913, the 19th Amendment gave nationwide suffrage to women in 1920, and the 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18 in 1971. During the 20th century, each amendment had its background and impact on managing taxes, women’s rights, and voting age limits. It witnessed the intention to improve living conditions and relationships between the government and citizens.
The 16th Amendment
The main idea of the 16th Amendment was to provide Congress with the power to collect income taxes regardless of states’ population. Before this change, Americans were obliged to pay taxes, but all requirements were unconstitutional and hard to control. In 1895, a famous taxation-related court case emerged due to inconsistencies in understanding the nature of direct and indirect taxes and a lack of constitutional clarifications (Lincoln IV). It was important for the government and the nation to identify the conditions under which people could clearly understand what and why they should pay taxes. The government, in turn, obtained a regular source of funding and revenue to strengthen its impact in the country.
The 19th Amendment
Several years later, the 19th Amendment was proposed to Congress to ensure that all citizens, including men and women, could have suffrage. It was decided to deny all voting restrictions based on gender differences to “maintain and expand women’s rights” in the United States (James 333). During the Civil War, many women were dissatisfied with the fact they could not give their vote or affect the nation’s development. On the one hand, this step was a critical moment in American history to enhance equality and support women. On the other hand, this change raised additional concern about the rights of black people because their suppression was impossible to neglect in the 1900s.
The 26th Amendment
Finally, one of the latest constitutional amendments was introduced to appreciate the rights of young Americans. In 1971, the 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18 years to underline the worth of the youth and the necessity to protect American democracy (Bromberg 1673). Most politicians believed that young people became “the promise” and “the hope,” and it was a direct responsibility of Congress to identify and respect them (Bromberg 1675). It was the moment when old traditions and beliefs had to be changed (not neglected) to help younger populations identify their roles in society and make contributions that were officially and constitutionally expected.
Conclusion
In conclusion, each amendment added to the US Constitution during the 20th century played an essential role in the nation’s growth. In the list of changes, the 16th, 19th, and 26th Amendments significantly impacted America, underlying the line between the government and citizens and appreciating people’s gender and age. The goal was to manage the existing challenges and examine future opportunities to ensure the country had a strong background for its improvement. People needed modifications in their lives and relationships with the government, and Congress added the amendments that were offered, following all constitutional rules and human rights.
Works Cited
Bromberg, Yael. “The Future Is Unwritten: Reclaiming the Twenty-Sixth Amendment.” Rutgers University Law Review, vol. 74, no. 5, 2022, pp. 1671-1696. Web.
James, Navita Cummings. “Reflections on the 100th Anniversary of the Ratification of the 19th Amendment: Past as Prologue.” Women & Language, vol. 44, no. 2, 2021, pp. 333-337.
Lincoln IV, Charles Edward Andrew. “Was the 1895 Pollock Case Decided Consistently with Existing Tax Principles?” ABA Tax Times, vol. 40, no. 4, 2021. Web.