Most people were ineligible to vote in the 18th and 19th centuries. [1] Not even 20% of the US population voted in presidential elections until the 20th century. [2]
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_rights_in_the_United_St...
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:U.S._Vote_for_President_a...
