1860 New York suffrage referendum facts for kids
| New York black suffrage referendum | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Question of Negro Suffrage | |||||||||||||||||||
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Yes
No
A referendum on Black suffrage was held in New York State in 1860. A referendum is like a big vote where people decide on a specific law or change. In this vote, people were asked if all Black men aged 21 and older should have the right to vote. At that time, Black men in New York could only vote if they owned a certain amount of property. Many Black men who met this rule did vote in this referendum.
Contents
Voting Rights for Black Men in New York
What Was the Vote About?
Before 1860, not everyone in New York State could vote. White men could vote without owning property. But Black men had to own property worth at least $250 to vote. This was a lot of money back then. The referendum in 1860 asked if this rule should change. It asked if all Black men, just like white men, should be able to vote without owning property.
How Did People Vote?
The idea to let all Black men vote without property failed. About 64% of the people who voted said "no" to the change. This meant that the rule about owning property stayed in place for Black voters.
Where Did People Vote?
People in the northern part of New York State, called Upstate New York, mostly supported the idea. They voted "yes" more often. However, in New York City and the areas around it, most people voted "no." This shows that opinions were different across the state.
