Question

the expansion of voting rights from the 15th amendment to the 26th amendment demonstrates which larger historical trend?

1. voting rights have consistently served to protect state power
2. local governments remain the primary actors in granting suffrage
3. voting rights expand only during times of war
4. the federal government increasingly intervenes to expand individual participation

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: Voting rights expansions (like 15th, 19th, 26th Amendments) aim to increase participation, not protect state power. Eliminate.
• Option 2: The 15th, 19th, 26th Amendments are federal actions, not local. Local governments aren't the primary actors here. Eliminate.
• Option 3: Voting rights expanded in peacetime (e.g., 19th Amendment post - WWI, 26th Amendment during peacetime) too, so this is false. Eliminate.
• Option 4: The 15th (African American men), 19th (women), 26th (18 - year - olds) Amendments are federal interventions to expand individual participation in elections. This matches the trend of federal government increasing individual voting rights.

Answer:

D. The federal government increasingly intervenes to expand individual participation