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[–] [deleted] 1 point -1 points (+0|-1) ago 

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[–] crankypants15 ago 

Did something change in the 1800s that necessitated the age to be bumped to 18? If not, I don't see how this argument hold.

Well, mandatory public school in the US was instituted. When you finished high school, people were usually 18 years old. That's the only thing I can think of. However, keep in mind that even through 1940 many people dropped out of US public school by grade 8 (about age 13) to help on farms or get a job to help their family.