Which statement best explains the reason Congress passed the Fifteenth Amendment?(1 point)
Responses
to guarantee equal protection under the law to Freedmen
to guarantee equal protection under the law to Freedmen
to stop poll taxes from creating an economic barrier to voting in the South
to stop poll taxes from creating an economic barrier to voting in the South
to guarantee the right to vote for women
to guarantee the right to vote for women
to protect the ability of Freedmen to participate in choosing a government through voting
The statement "to guarantee equal protection under the law to Freedmen" best explains the reason Congress passed the Fifteenth Amendment.
The statement that best explains the reason Congress passed the Fifteenth Amendment is to guarantee equal protection under the law to Freedmen.
The correct statement that best explains the reason Congress passed the Fifteenth Amendment is: "to guarantee the right to vote for Freedmen."
To arrive at this answer, we should carefully evaluate each response option:
Option 1: "to guarantee equal protection under the law to Freedmen"
This statement describes the purpose of the Fourteenth Amendment, which focused on ensuring equal protection under the law for all citizens, including Freedmen (formerly enslaved people). It does not specifically address the right to vote.
Option 2: "to stop poll taxes from creating an economic barrier to voting in the South"
While poll taxes did create an economic barrier to voting in the South during this time, the Fifteenth Amendment was not specifically aimed at stopping poll taxes. It focused on securing voting rights regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Option 3: "to guarantee the right to vote for women"
Although suffragettes and the women's suffrage movement advocated for the right to vote during this time, the Fifteenth Amendment did not specifically address women's suffrage. It focused solely on protecting the voting rights of Freedmen.
Option 4: "to protect the ability of Freedmen to participate in choosing a government through voting"
This statement accurately describes the purpose of the Fifteenth Amendment. It aimed to protect the voting rights of Freedmen and ensure their ability to participate in the democratic process by choosing a government through voting.
Thus, the correct statement is that Congress passed the Fifteenth Amendment to guarantee the right to vote for Freedmen.