Most white men without property gained the vote in the U.S. state by state, with New Hampshire dropping its property requirement in 1792 and North Carolina being the last state to do so in 1856.

What that means

In the early United States, voting was often limited to property owners, so poor white men were excluded at first. Over time, states removed those property requirements, and by 1856 all white men could vote in practice nationwide.

Important nuance

This change did not apply equally to everyone. Black men, Native Americans, and other groups were still blocked or restricted in many places for decades afterward, and national protections came later.

Dates to remember

  • 1792: New Hampshire becomes the first state to eliminate property requirements for voting.
  • 1856: North Carolina becomes the last state to remove property ownership as a requirement for white men.

Would you like a one-line timeline of how voting rights expanded after that?