The ratification of the 26th Amendment was the direct result of- reaction to the spread of communism the decreased role of the federal government in voting rights the passage of the War Powers Act protests over the draft during the Vietnam War

## Step 1<br />The 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. This change was a direct response to the protests over the draft during the Vietnam War.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />During the Vietnam War, many young men were being drafted into the military, but they were not allowed to vote for the leaders who were sending them to war. This situation led to widespread protests and demands for the right to vote.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />The slogan "Old enough to fight, old enough to vote" became popular during this time, encapsulating the sentiment of many young Americans who felt that if they were old enough to be drafted and fight for their country, they should also be old enough to have a say in the political process.<br /><br />## Step 4<br />In response to these protests and the broader context of the Vietnam War, Congress passed the 26th Amendment in 1971, which was ratified by the states later that year.