enfranchisement

1 the act of setting free from slavery the Emancipation Proclamation was merely the first step in the full enfranchisement of African-Americans Synonyms emancipation, liberation, freeing, manumissionRelated Words deliverance, redemption, salvation; autonomy, freedom, independence, independency, liberty, self-government, sovereignty (also sovranty)Near Antonyms bondage, serfdom, servitude, thralldom (or thraldom), yoke; captivity, enchainment, imprisonment, incarceration, internment; conquest, subjugationAntonyms enslavement

2 the right to formally express one's position or will in an election a time when enfranchisement was limited to white males who owned property Synonyms ballot, vote, franchise, suffrageRelated Words say, say-so, voiceAntonyms disenfranchisement