For most of American history, state governments have had significant control over what qualifies someone to register to vote within their state. In the modern era, the federal government has regulated certain criteria, like age, race, and gender; however historically, the state governments dictated all of these categories as well. Massachusetts kept their own laws limiting voting to certain populations. Originally, limitations were made based on wealth and residency, granting suffrage to landowners only. During the drastic increase of immigration during the 19^th century, the Massachusetts state legislature added a subtle clause to its constitution that required a literacy test for voters. This clause remained in effect into the 1960s, when the federal government began to regulate voting to eliminate deliberate barriers like these.

Document A

Article IV from the original Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, effective October 25, 1780.

“Art. IV. Every male person being twenty-one years of age, and resident in any particular town in this commonwealth, for the space of one year next preceding, having a freehold estate within the same town, of the annual income of three pounds, or any estate of the value of sixty pounds, shall have a right to vote in the choice of a representative or representatives for the said town.”

Document B

An excerpt from the Article XX of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1857.

Art. XX. “No person shall have the right to vote, or be eligible to office under the Constitution of the Commonwealth, who shall not be able to read the Constitution in the English Language, and write his name…”