The Virgin Vote

Focusing on the vibrant role of youth in American democracy during the late nineteenth century, the narrative highlights how young people energized political participation through lively rallies and passionate engagement. With parents encouraging their children to embrace partisanship, young adults were seen as vital to the electoral process, especially with their first votes at age twenty-one. The book illustrates how schools, saloons, and public squares became arenas for young men and women to assert their identities and influence the political landscape, showcasing the deeply personal nature of democracy.