Vietnam and the Vote at 18

The Cold War pulled the United States into another Asian war. The United States entered the Vietnam War^Q111, again, to stop the spread of communism. American troops fought there until 1973.

The war changed who could vote. Young men were drafted to fight at 18 but could not vote until 21. "Old enough to fight, old enough to vote" won the argument, and in 1971 the 26th Amendment lowered the voting age. It was the last of four amendments about who can vote^Q63: the 15th (race, 1870), the 19th (women, 1920), the 24th (no poll taxes, 1964) and the 26th. Today, citizens eighteen (18) and older can vote.

The draft ended in 1973, but since 1980 all men age 18 through 25 register for the Selective Service^Q72, the agency that would run a draft in an emergency, because it is required by law.