Originally a man wasn't a man until he was at least 21, was free, and owned land. Back then the median life was under 50 years old, which meant about half a lifetime you were to be unrepresented in government. Granted it had alot to do with the squalor lifestyles people lived back in the pioneer days, but people just didn't know better. Problem was that even people old enough were often wrapped in servitude and could not afford land ownership, meaning voting fell into the hands of the elite. The tradition of writing the voter registration in an official book form is traditional, because it dates back to the time were books were rare and rather thin; hardly need for much room in those voter lists. (The book at my local precinct today is about four inches thick.) People really take for granted what the U.S. was founded upon, and that is community structure.
The age of 21 is something that dates back from the Middle Ages, something about "requims". The exact term escapes me for the moment, but it has to do with property in the event of non-survivorship, that is no heirs to take over. Basically an estate could be set up for a trust until 21 years after the death of the last owner that had vested rules over that property. Until the 21 years was over then any new owner that was not heir could not change the rules upon which that trust was set. I'm not sure what brought about the number of 21, but it was probably something to do with sevens and luck. People were pretty scared silly in superstitious subtlety back then.
The mere thought of being 18, let alone 14, and legal voting age probably makes millions of our ancestors roll over in their graves.
The age of 21 is something that dates back from the Middle Ages, something about "requims". The exact term escapes me for the moment, but it has to do with property in the event of non-survivorship, that is no heirs to take over. Basically an estate could be set up for a trust until 21 years after the death of the last owner that had vested rules over that property. Until the 21 years was over then any new owner that was not heir could not change the rules upon which that trust was set. I'm not sure what brought about the number of 21, but it was probably something to do with sevens and luck. People were pretty scared silly in superstitious subtlety back then.
The mere thought of being 18, let alone 14, and legal voting age probably makes millions of our ancestors roll over in their graves.