Research Guides: 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Primary Documents in American History: Introduction (2024)

The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted African American men the right to vote by declaring that the "right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." Although ratified on February 3, 1870, the promise of the 15th Amendment would not be fully realized for almost a century. Through the use of poll taxes, literacy tests and other means, Southern states were able to effectively disenfranchise African Americans. It would take the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 before the majority of African Americans in the South were registered to vote.

Research Guides: 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Primary Documents in American History: Introduction (2024)

FAQs

Research Guides: 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Primary Documents in American History: Introduction? ›

The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted African American men the right to vote by declaring that the "right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." Although ratified on ...

What was the 15th Amendment primary documents in American history? ›

Passed by Congress February 26, 1869, and ratified February 3, 1870, the 15th Amendment granted African American men the right to vote.

What is the 15th Amendment research? ›

The Fifteenth Amendment (ratified in 1870) extended voting rights to men of all races. However, this amendment was not enough because African Americans were still denied the right to vote by state constitutions and laws, poll taxes, literacy tests, the “grandfather clause,” and outright intimidation.

What was the 15th Amendment to the US Constitution? ›

Amendment Fifteen to the Constitution – the last of the Reconstruction Amendments – was ratified on February 3, 1870. It grants the right to vote for all male citizens regardless of their ethnicity or prior slave status.

What was the 15th Amendment historical reasoning? ›

Most of the border states, where one-sixth of the nation's Black population resided, also refused to allow Black people to vote. Republicans' answer to the problem of the Black vote was to add a Constitutional amendment that guaranteed Black suffrage in all states, and no matter which party controlled the government.

What major effect did the 15th Amendment have on American society? ›

The Fifteenth Amendment would guarantee protection against racial discrimination in voting. Many women's rights activists objected to the proposed amendment because the protections would only apply to men. Still, enough states approved the Fifteenth Amendment that it was adopted in 1870.

Which statement summarizes the 15th Amendment? ›

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

What is the 15th Amendment digital history? ›

The Fifteenth Amendment declared that the right to vote could not be denied “on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” It did not explicitly guarantee the right to hold office or serve on juries; nor did it ensure federal protection of voting rights.

What impact did the 15th Amendment have on the women's suffrage movement? ›

With the passage of the 15th Amendment (the first step toward ratification), which granted the right to vote to men of color and former slaves, but not women, the National Women's Suffrage Association, led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, broke with their abolitionist and Republican supporters.

When was the 15th Amendment violated? ›

1944White-Only Primary Is Ruled Unconstitutional

The Democratic Party in several southern states limits participation to whites only in primary elections.

What was the purpose of the 15th Amendment quizlet? ›

The 15th amendment protects the rights of the American to vote in elections to elect their leaders. ~ The 15th amendment purpose was to ensure that states, or communities, were not denying people the right to vote simply based on their race.

What are some fun facts about the 15th Amendment? ›

Other Interesting Facts About the Fifteenth Amendment

The first state to ratify the amendment was Nevada,on March 1, 1869. Tennessee didn't ratify it until 1997. One day after the amendment was ratified, Thomas Mundy Peterson from Perth Amboy, New Jersey became the first black person to vote under its authority.

What amendment abolished slavery? ›

Constitutional Amendments – Amendment 13 – “The Abolition of Slavery” Amendment Thirteen to the Constitution – the first of the three Reconstruction Amendments – was ratified on December 6, 1865.

What was the reality and outcome of the 15th Amendment? ›

The Amendment legally extended voting rights to a significantly larger portion of the American population, no longer limiting the right to vote to white, land-owning men; however, for many Black Americans, particularly in the South, the rights protected by the 15th Amendment were only true on paper and did not reflect ...

What were some of the biggest barriers to the success of the 15th Amendment? ›

Final answer: The biggest barriers to the success of the 15th Amendment were discrimination, violence, lack of enforcement, and Supreme Court rulings.

How did the 14th and 15th amendments mark a turning point in history? ›

These amendments ended slavery, acknowledged African Americans' citizenship rights, and gave them the right to vote regardless of their race, color, or history of servitude. For African Americans, these amendments marked a sea change in their ability to participate in politics.

What are the primary documents in American history? ›

Here is a sample of these records, from our most celebrated milestones to little-known surprises .
  • Declaration of Independence.
  • Articles of Confederation.
  • The Constitution.
  • Bill of Rights.
  • Louisiana Purchase.
  • List of Lewis's Purchases.
  • District of Columbia Emancipation.
  • Emancipation Proclamation.
Jun 26, 2017

What is a primary source document for the American Revolution? ›

The Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights were all created in the 1700s and are primary documents if you are researching the American Revolution.

What is a primary source document of the Civil War? ›

Civil War Primary Source Documents includes invaluable primary resources such as letters, diaries, administrative records, photographs and illustrations.

What is the primary document of the 16th amendment? ›

Amendment Sixteen to the Constitution was ratified on February 3, 1913. It grants Congress the authority to issue an income tax without having to determine it based on population.

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