Who was involved in the 15th Amendment ? Think about the people or groups who were involved and affected by this event.
The 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1870, granted African American men the right to vote. Several groups and individuals were involved in and affected by this event. Here are some key players:
1. African American Activists: African American activists and leaders like Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and Rev. Henry Highland Garnet played significant roles in advocating for voting rights for African Americans.
2. Radical Republicans: The Radical Republicans, a faction of the Republican Party, were strong supporters of the amendment and pushed for the inclusion of voting rights for African Americans in the Reconstruction policies. Key figures include Senator Charles Sumner and Representative Thaddeus Stevens.
3. Suffragists: The women's suffrage movement, led by figures like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, was initially in support of the 15th Amendment but later split over concerns that it did not include voting rights for women.
4. Southern Democrats: Democrats in the South, particularly ex-Confederates and white supremacists, strongly opposed the 15th Amendment. They implemented various tactics, such as literacy tests, poll taxes, and violent intimidation, to suppress African American voting rights.
5. African American Voters: The 15th Amendment directly affected African American men, granting them the right to vote and ending legal discrimination based on race.
6. U.S. Supreme Court: The U.S. Supreme Court played a role in interpreting the 15th Amendment. For example, in the 1876 case United States v. Cruikshank, the court ruled that the amendment did not provide protection against private acts of discrimination or the infringement of voting rights by individuals or organizations.
7. American Society: The 15th Amendment represented a significant advancement in civil rights, aimed at guaranteeing equal voting rights regardless of race. It signaled progress in the fight against racial discrimination in the United States.