--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When they wrote the Constitution, only…" description: "\"When they wrote the Constitution, only white male landowners had the right to vote.\" — Jesse Jackson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/jesse-jackson-1161_constitution_when-they-wrote-the-constitution-only-wh_78295.jpg" --- # When they wrote the Constitution, only white male… ![“When they wrote the Constitution, only white male landowners had the right to vote.” quote by Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/jesse-jackson-1161_constitution_when-they-wrote-the-constitution-only-wh_78295.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/jesse-jackson-1161_constitution_when-they-wrote-the-constitution-only-wh_78295.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/jesse-jackson-1161_constitution_when-they-wrote-the-constitution-only-wh_78295.jpg) > “When they wrote the Constitution, only white male landowners had the right to vote.” [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement highlights that the original U.S. Constitution limited voting rights to a narrow, privileged group, excluding women, people of color, and non‑landowners. **In simple terms:** Historical voting restrictions Key Takeaway Founding era excluded most citizens Themes historical inequality political rights democracy social justice American history Mood reflective critical Type historical political When to use this quote - civics education - historical analysis - policy debates - social justice advocacy Key Concepts suffrage constitution white male landowners exclusion Practical Applications - educational curricula - public discourse Questions to Reflect On - How does this early limitation shape modern voting rights debates? - What lessons can be drawn for expanding democratic participation? A Different Perspective Some argue the Constitution was progressive for its time, but its original franchise was undeniably exclusive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Males](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/males/) [Right to vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-to-vote/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) ## Related quotes > [Many have fought for and even lost their lives to end segregation, to win the right to vote. It disappoints me to now have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/many-have-fought-for-and-even-lost-their-lives-to-end-segregation-to/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [The crown jewel of Dr. King's movement was to protect the right to vote for all citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/the-crown-jewel-of-dr-king-s-movement-was-to-protect-the-right-to/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [America was made for white men. Literally, at the time of the writing of the new country's Constitution, only white men could own land,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/america-was-made-for-white-men-literally-at-the-time-of-the-writing/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [I think what it was about was the people's right to vote and have those votes counted. And if you think back through our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-boies/i-think-what-it-was-about-was-the-people-s-right-to-vote-and-have/) [David Boies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-boies/) > [Millions of people are unable to vote due to felony convictions with the highest rates among black men. People in prison are denied the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/millions-of-people-are-unable-to-vote-due-to-felony-convictions-with/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [The market is a democracy in which every penny gives a right to vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-market-is-a-democracy-in-which-every-penny-gives-a-right-to-vote/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [The right to vote is the right upon which all of our rights are leveraged - and without which none can be protected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-right-to-vote-is-the-right-upon-which-all-of-our-rights-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No matter what your political persuasion, you can find a guide that makes it quick, easy and painless to exercise your right to vote.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weber/no-matter-what-your-political-persuasion-you-can-find-a-guide-that/) [Steven Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weber/) > [You don't have a right to vote, you've got a duty of vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-barton/you-don-t-have-a-right-to-vote-you-ve-got-a-duty-of-vote/) [David Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-barton/) > [When WOMEN got the right to vote is when it all went downhill. Because that’s when votes started being cast with emotion and uh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/when-women-got-the-right-to-vote-is-when-it-all-went-downhill-because/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [It is very little to me to have the right to vote, to own property, etc., if I may not keep my body, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-stone/it-is-very-little-to-me-to-have-the-right-to-vote-to-own-property-etc/) [Lucy Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-stone/) > [We have a duty to our country to participate in the political process. See, if you believe in freedom, you have a duty to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-have-a-duty-to-our-country-to-participate-in-the-political-process/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Sometime in the coming century, people will rack their brains pondering how nations with tremendous scientific and intellectual achievements could have given uninstructed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/sometime-in-the-coming-century-people-will-rack-their-brains/) [Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/) > [I think if people value democracy, they had damn well better get out and exercise their right to vote while their vote still means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-weir/i-think-if-people-value-democracy-they-had-damn-well-better-get-out/) [Bob Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-weir/) > [To me, it's not necessarily about whom you vote for, it's more about the fact that you go out and exercise that right. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-griffin-iii/to-me-it-s-not-necessarily-about-whom-you-vote-for-it-s-more-about/) [Robert Griffin III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-griffin-iii/) ## More by Jesse Jackson > [If my mind can conceive it ,and my heart can believe it,i known I can achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/if-my-mind-can-conceive-it-and-my-heart-can-believe-it-i-known-i-can/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [We reveal our joys and successes, we conceal our pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-reveal-our-joys-and-successes-we-conceal-our-pain/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [We blacks were the first people embracing Obama, long before the people at expensive fundraisers were supporting him. We gave him his first love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-blacks-were-the-first-people-embracing-obama-long-before-the/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [The coffers are full of money and equipment for the Ferguson Police and the Missouri National Guard to put down a potential uprising, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/the-coffers-are-full-of-money-and-equipment-for-the-ferguson-police/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Many are observing Ferguson and witnessing the anger, demonstrations, looting and vandalism and calling for quiet. But quiet isn't enough. The absence of noise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/many-are-observing-ferguson-and-witnessing-the-anger-demonstrations/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [What's good for the very rich might not be good for anybody but them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/what-s-good-for-the-very-rich-might-not-be-good-for-anybody-but-them/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Those who have the most wealth and the most property, their children have the first, the best, and the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/those-who-have-the-most-wealth-and-the-most-property-their-children/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Most blacks will argue that they excel because of hard work, because of intellect, determination, sweat, blood, tears and risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/most-blacks-will-argue-that-they-excel-because-of-hard-work-because/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Pictures can live in one's memory. That's why they are important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/pictures-can-live-in-one-s-memory-that-s-why-they-are-important/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [A check or credit card, a Gucci bag strap, anything of value will do. Give as you live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/a-check-or-credit-card-a-gucci-bag-strap-anything-of-value-will-do/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [I'm too mature to be angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/i-m-too-mature-to-be-angry/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [We picked their cotton. We cooked their food. We nursed their babies. Now we can run their cities. We can run their states. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-picked-their-cotton-we-cooked-their-food-we-nursed-their-babies/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [There are clear patterns of discrimination against Blacks and Latinos. The big banks targeted Blacks and Latinos with toxic packages of subprime predatory lending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/there-are-clear-patterns-of-discrimination-against-blacks-and-latinos/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Few would deny that blacks have become very dominant in athletics: football, basketball, track, now dominant in tennis and dominant in golf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/few-would-deny-that-blacks-have-become-very-dominant-in-athletics/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [His foreparents came to America in immigrant ships. My foreparents came to America in slave ships. But whatever the original ships, we are both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/his-foreparents-came-to-america-in-immigrant-ships-my-foreparents/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) [Explore all 281 Jesse Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) ## More Constitution quotes > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [While not widely reported, our victories in Iraq are plentiful. National elections, a democratic parliament and the drafting of a constitution are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gillmor/while-not-widely-reported-our-victories-in-iraq-are-plentiful/) [Paul Gillmor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gillmor/) > [In a recent decision of the Supreme Court, not made, however, by the full court, and concurred in by only four justices, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bates-clark/in-a-recent-decision-of-the-supreme-court-not-made-however-by-the/) [John Bates Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bates-clark/) > [The judiciary must not take on the coloration of whatever may be popular at the moment. We are guardian of rights, and we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-bird/the-judiciary-must-not-take-on-the-coloration-of-whatever-may-be/) [Rose Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-bird/) > [There is not a revolution that succe Women are suffering because they are being excluded. The high military council excluded women from the committee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/there-is-not-a-revolution-that-succe-women-are-suffering-because-they/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“The Court has a special responsibility to ensure that the Constitution works in practice. While education, including the transmission of our civic values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/the-court-has-a-special-responsibility-to-ensure-that-the/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) Joe Pitts > [Nothing from man's hands, nor law, nor constitution, can be final. Truth alone is final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sumner/nothing-from-man-s-hands-nor-law-nor-constitution-can-be-final-truth/) [Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) > [“I am apprehensive, Sir, that in the warmth of my feelings, I may have uttered expressions, which were too vehement. If such has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/i-am-apprehensive-sir-that-in-the-warmth-of-my-feelings-i-may-have/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Conservative political opinion in America cleaves to the tradition of the judge as passive interpreter, believing that his absolute loyalty to authoritative law is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/conservative-political-opinion-in-america-cleaves-to-the-tradition-of/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) [Browse all 4,507 Constitution quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When they wrote the Constitution, only white male landowners had the right to vote.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jesse Jackson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/when-they-wrote-the-constitution-only-white-male-landowners-had-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Constitution" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/when-they-wrote-the-constitution-only-white-male-landowners-had-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/jesse-jackson-1161_constitution_when-they-wrote-the-constitution-only-wh_78295.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/jesse-jackson-1161_constitution_when-they-wrote-the-constitution-only-wh_78295.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/jesse-jackson-1161_constitution_when-they-wrote-the-constitution-only-wh_78295.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When they wrote the Constitution, only white male landowners had the right to vote.” — Jesse Jackson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jesse Jackson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When they wrote the Constitution, only...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/when-they-wrote-the-constitution-only-white-male-landowners-had-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/when-they-wrote-the-constitution-only-white-male-landowners-had-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```