A Level History - America - Practice Exam

Why were Native American women unable to vote in the 1920s?

1. They had not been educated

2. They were not considered citizens

3. They were too poor to vote

4. They were prohibited by law

The correct answer is: They were not considered citizens

Native American women were unable to vote in the 1920s primarily because they were not considered citizens of the United States. The Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 granted U.S. citizenship to Native Americans, but many states found ways to keep them from voting for years afterward through various laws and regulations. The legal status of Native Americans was complex; even with citizenship, many faced barriers that effectively disenfranchised them. This lack of citizenship fundamentally disqualified them from voting rights at that time, as only citizens could participate in elections. In contrast, the other options do not capture the core reason for their disenfranchisement during this period. Education levels might vary, but they did not determine voting eligibility. Economic status, while a factor in many electoral contexts, was not the primary barrier for Native American women specifically. Lastly, although some laws did exist that directly affected voting rights, the overarching issue was citizenship status itself, making it the critical factor in understanding their inability to vote.