what happened during the founding of the 15th Amendment
The founding of the 15th Amendment, also known as the Reconstruction Amendment, marked an important milestone in the United States history. It was ratified on February 3, 1870, with the aim of guaranteeing voting rights to African American men.
During the Reconstruction Era following the American Civil War, several efforts were made to ensure civil and political rights for freed slaves and African Americans. The 13th Amendment had abolished slavery, and the 14th Amendment granted equal protection under the law to all citizens. However, it became clear that these rights were still being denied in many states, especially in the form of discriminatory voting practices.
The idea of a constitutional amendment to enshrine voting rights for African Americans began to gain traction. The Republican Party, which advocated for the rights of freed slaves, believed this amendment was necessary to secure their political participation. These efforts were also supported by prominent abolitionists and civil rights leaders.
The amendment was introduced to Congress in February 1869 and passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives later that year. It was then sent to the individual states for ratification. The campaign to ratify the amendment faced significant opposition, particularly from Southern states that sought to maintain white supremacy and suppress the political power of African Americans.
Eventually, however, the necessary number of states ratified the amendment, and it became a part of the United States Constitution. The 15th Amendment states 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."
Despite its ratification, the 15th Amendment did not immediately lead to full and equal voting rights for African Americans. Southern states found ways to circumvent the amendment, imposing discriminatory measures such as literacy tests, poll taxes, and violent intimidation. It took several more decades, and the Civil Rights Movement of the 20th century, to secure meaningful voting rights for African Americans.