Fontham v. McKeithen

At the time the Founding Fathers were in Philadelphia debating the extent of a citizen’s right of franchise, women, slaves, and indentured servants were denied the franchise. Property qualifications, religious restrictions, and other limitations narrowed the number of eligible male voters. As finally approved, the Constitution contained no guarantee of the right to vote; even senators were chosen by state legislatures. In 1875 when the Supreme Court decided Minor v. Happersett, 21 Wall. 162, 22 L.Ed. 627, on which the majority relies for its basic rationale, women were still denied the right…