Immediately after the Revolution, many states had property requirements, believing people at the time needed an economic stake to vote and that a voter who lacked economic independence could be easily manipulated for their vote. This changed with industrialization. By only 1840 more than 90% of adult white men possessed the right to vote. Tragically, with this expansion, the doors closed on white women and free African Americans. This was a reversal in state rights. For example, in New Jersey, wealthy women had been allowed to vote since 1776 as well as all free blacks. Free African American men could only vote in six northern states and women could not vote at all.
Immediately after the Revolution, many states had property requirements, believing people at the time needed an economic stake to vote and that a voter who lacked economic independence could be easily manipulated for their vote. This changed with industrialization. By only 1840 more than 90% of adult white men possessed the right to vote. Tragically, with this expansion, the doors closed on white women and free African Americans. This was a reversal in state rights. For example, in New Jersey, wealthy women had been allowed to vote since 1776 as well as all free blacks. Free African American men could only vote in six northern states and women could not vote at all.