who had the right to vote in the colonial america
Voting rights in the United States
The United States Constitution did not originally define who was eligible to vote , allowing each state to determine who was eligible . In the early history of the U.S. , most states allowed only white male adult property owners to vote . Freed slaves could vote in four states . Women were largely prohibited from voting , as were men without property . Women could vote in New Jersey until 1807 ( provided they could meet the property requirement ) and in some local jurisdictions in other northern states . Non-white Americans could also vote in these jurisdictions , provided they could meet the property requirement . By 1856 , white men were allowed to vote in all states regardless of property ownership , although requirements for paying tax remained in five states . On the other hand , several states , including Pennsylvania and New Jersey stripped the free black males of the right to vote in the same period . 
The United States Constitution did not originally define who was eligible to vote , allowing each state to determine who was eligible . In the early history of the U.S. , most states allowed only white male adult property owners to vote . Freed slaves could vote in four states . Women were largely prohibited from voting , as were men without property . Women could vote in New Jersey until 1807 ( provided they could meet the property requirement ) and in some local jurisdictions in other northern states . Non-white Americans could also vote in these jurisdictions , provided they could meet the property requirement . By 1856 , white men were allowed to vote in all states regardless of property ownership , although requirements for paying tax remained in five states . On the other hand , several states , including Pennsylvania and New Jersey stripped the free black males of the right to vote in the same period .
In the early history of the U.S., most states allowed only white male adult property owners to vote.
 By 1856, white men were allowed to vote in all states regardless of property ownership, although requirements for paying tax remained in five states.
In the early history of the U.S. , most states allowed only white male adult property owners to vote . By 1856 , white men were allowed to vote in all states regardless of property ownership , although requirements for paying tax remained in five states .