Simone Lawson
The Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, passed by Congress on February 26, 1869, and ratified on February 3, 1870, prohibits the federal government and each state from denying or abridging a citizen's right to vote based on their race, color, or previous condition of servitude. It was the third and final Reconstruction Amendment, coming after the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery, and the Fourteenth Amendment, which granted citizenship. The Fifteenth Amendment was a significant step towards racial equality, but it did not address sex discrimination in voter laws, and its implementation was met with resistance, particularly in the Southern United States, where discriminatory voting practices persisted well into the 20th century.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date proposed | December 7, 1868 |
| Date passed by Congress | February 26, 1869 |
| Date ratified | February 3, 1870 |
| Ratified by | The first 28 states and later certified by Secretary of State Hamilton Fish |
| Type of Amendment | Reconstruction Amendment |
| What it grants | The right to vote for African American men |
| What it prohibits | Federal government and states from denying or abridging a citizen's right to vote on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude |
| What it empowers | Congress to enforce the above through appropriate legislation |
| What it doesn't address | Sex discrimination in voter laws |
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What You'll Learn
The right of citizens to vote
The Fifteenth Amendment (Amendment XV) to the United States Constitution was passed by Congress on February 26, 1869, and ratified on February 3, 1870. It prohibits the federal government and each state from denying or abridging a citizen's right to vote based on their "race, colour, or previous condition of servitude". The amendment was the third and final Reconstruction Amendment, following the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery, and the Fourteenth Amendment, which granted citizenship.
The Fifteenth Amendment was a significant step in the struggle for equality for African Americans. It was celebrated by black communities and abolitionist societies, many of which disbanded, feeling that their work was complete. President Ulysses S. Grant remarked that the amendment "completes the greatest civil change and constitutes the most important event that has occurred since the nation came to life."
However, despite the amendment's guarantees, African Americans continued to face barriers to voting, particularly in the Southern United States. From 1890 to 1910, the Democratic Party in the South adopted new state constitutions and enacted "Jim Crow" laws, which raised obstacles to voter registration, such as poll taxes and literacy tests. These measures, along with a system of white primaries and violent intimidation by the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), effectively suppressed black political participation.
It was not until 1965 that a more direct effort was made to address African American disenfranchisement. Prompted by reports of persistent discriminatory voting practices in several Southern states, President Lyndon B. Johnson urged Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This legislation abolished remaining deterrents to voting and authorized federal supervision of voter registration where necessary.
The Fifteenth Amendment has been interpreted by the Supreme Court, with a notable ruling in Shelby County v. Holder (2013) regarding the constitutionality of certain provisions of the Voting Rights Act. The Court affirmed the enduring relevance of the Fifteenth Amendment, stating that it "commands that the right to vote shall not be denied or abridged on account of race or colour".
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No denial or abridgement of voting rights
The Fifteenth Amendment (Amendment XV) to the United States Constitution prohibits the federal government and each state from denying or abridging a citizen's right to vote based on their "race, colour, or previous condition of servitude". This amendment was passed by Congress on February 26, 1869, and ratified on February 3, 1870, as the third and final Reconstruction Amendment.
The Fifteenth Amendment was a significant step in the struggle for equality for African Americans, granting them the right to vote. This came after the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery, and the Fourteenth Amendment, which guaranteed citizenship. The adoption of this amendment was celebrated by black communities and abolitionist societies, with many of the latter disbanding, feeling that their work was complete.
However, despite the protections offered by the Fifteenth Amendment, African Americans continued to face barriers to voting in the late nineteenth century. The Democratic Party in the Southern United States enacted "Jim Crow" laws that created obstacles to voter registration, such as poll taxes and literacy tests, resulting in the disenfranchisement of most black voters and many poor whites.
In response to ongoing discriminatory voting practices in the South, President Lyndon B. Johnson urged Congress in 1965 to pass the Voting Rights Act, which abolished remaining deterrents to voting and authorized federal supervision of voter registration. This Act was extended multiple times, but in 2013, the Supreme Court struck down a key provision regarding federal oversight, ruling that it exceeded Congress's enforcement authority under the Fifteenth Amendment.
The Fifteenth Amendment is described as "self-executing", but the Supreme Court has emphasized that the right to be free from racial discrimination in voting can be enforced through congressional enactments when necessary. The Amendment's purpose, as stated by the Court, is "not designed to punish for the past; its purpose is to ensure a better future."
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Prohibition of racial discrimination
The Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, also known as Amendment XV, was ratified on February 3, 1870. It prohibits racial discrimination in voting rights, ensuring that citizens of the United States have the right to vote regardless of their race, colour, or previous servitude status. The amendment was a significant step towards racial equality, guaranteeing that neither the federal government nor any state government could deny or restrict the voting rights of citizens based on racial factors.
The Fifteenth Amendment was the culmination of a series of legislative efforts aimed at securing the rights of African Americans following the Civil War. During this period, Congress actively debated the rights of millions of freed black individuals. The Thirteenth Amendment had abolished slavery, the Fourteenth Amendment provided citizenship and equal protection under the laws, and the Fifteenth Amendment completed this trilogy of Reconstruction Amendments by granting African American men the right to vote.
The adoption of the Fifteenth Amendment was celebrated widely in black communities and abolitionist societies, many of which disbanded, believing that their work was accomplished. President Ulysses S. Grant regarded the amendment as a significant milestone, stating that it "completes the greatest civil change and constitutes the most important event that has occurred since the nation came to life."
Despite the amendment's clear mandate, there were challenges to its implementation. In the late nineteenth century, the United States Supreme Court interpreted the amendment narrowly, and voting rights continued to be restricted for African Americans through mechanisms such as "Jim Crow" laws, poll taxes, literacy tests, and violent intimidation by the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). However, the Court later broadened its interpretation of the amendment, striking down discriminatory provisions and enforcing the right to be free from racial discrimination in voting.
The Fifteenth Amendment's prohibition of racial discrimination in voting rights was further strengthened by the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Prompted by reports of persistent discriminatory voting practices in Southern states, President Lyndon B. Johnson urged Congress to pass legislation that would safeguard the Fifteenth Amendment. The Voting Rights Act abolished barriers to voting and authorised federal supervision of voter registration processes. This Act underwent extensions in 1970, 1975, and 1982 to continue addressing discriminatory voting practices.
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Congress's power to enforce
The Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, passed by Congress on February 26, 1869, and ratified on February 3, 1870, prohibits the federal government and each state from denying or abridging a citizen's right to vote based on their "race, color, or previous condition of servitude."
The amendment's adoption was celebrated by Black communities and abolitionist societies, many of whom believed that their work was complete and that Black rights had been secured. Notably, the amendment was also seen as a political strategy by Republicans, who believed that protecting the franchise of Black male voters was crucial for the party's future.
However, despite the amendment's guarantees, subsequent years witnessed the emergence of new state constitutions and "Jim Crow" laws that created barriers to voter registration, particularly for Black voters. These laws, enacted by the Democratic Party in the Southern United States from 1890 to 1910, resulted in the disenfranchisement of most Black voters and many poor Whites through mechanisms such as poll taxes and literacy tests.
To address these ongoing discriminatory voting practices, President Lyndon B. Johnson urged Congress in 1965 to pass legislation that would uphold the guarantees of the Fifteenth Amendment. This led to the enactment of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which abolished remaining deterrents to exercising the right to vote and authorized federal supervision of voter registration where necessary.
The Supreme Court's interpretation of the Fifteenth Amendment has evolved over time. Initially, in the late nineteenth century, the Court interpreted it narrowly. However, in the twentieth century, the Court began to interpret the amendment more broadly, striking down discriminatory provisions in various cases.
The Congress shall have the power to enforce the Fifteenth Amendment through appropriate legislation, as stated in Section 1 of the amendment. This enforcement power was affirmed by the Supreme Court in the Shelby County v. Holder case in 2013, where the Court acknowledged that the amendment empowers Congress to enforce the right to vote free from racial discrimination.
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The women's suffrage movement's opposition
The Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, passed in 1870, prohibits the federal government and each state from denying or abridging a citizen's right to vote based on their "race, color, or previous condition of servitude". This amendment was celebrated by black communities and abolitionist societies, many of whom believed that their work was complete and that black rights had been secured.
However, the women's suffrage movement opposed the Fifteenth Amendment, as it barred race discrimination but not sex discrimination in voter laws. Before and during the Civil War, the women's suffrage movement had aligned with the abolitionist movement, but with the passage of the Fourteenth Amendment, which protected only male citizens, the civil rights of women were no longer tied to those of black citizens.
The anti-suffrage movement, which included both men and women, argued that most women did not want the vote as they were busy taking care of their homes and children and did not have time to stay updated on politics. They also argued that women lacked the expertise or mental capacity to provide useful opinions on political issues. Additionally, some believed that women's suffrage would threaten the family institution and violate traditional gender norms.
In the mid-19th century, women's suffrage supporters lectured, wrote, marched, lobbied, and practiced civil disobedience to achieve what many Americans considered a radical change in the Constitution – guaranteeing women the right to vote. Some suffragists used more confrontational tactics, such as picketing, silent vigils, and hunger strikes. During World War I, they tried to embarrass President Woodrow Wilson, who opposed women's suffrage, into supporting a federal amendment.
The opposition to women's suffrage was formalized with the creation of the Massachusetts Association Opposed to the Further Extension of Suffrage to Women in 1894, and the National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage in 1911. By 1914, the National League for Opposing Women's Suffrage had around 15,000 members. However, in 1917, there was a shift, and anti-suffragists began to include anti-radical rhetoric in their arguments. In 1919, a Congressional resolution proposed extending the right to vote to women, and in 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, granting women the right to vote.
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Frequently asked questions
The Fifteenth Amendment prohibits the federal government and each state from denying or abridging a citizen's right to vote based on race, colour, or previous condition of servitude.
The Fifteenth Amendment granted African American men the right to vote. It was the third and final Reconstruction Amendment passed after the Civil War, and it was ratified on February 3, 1870.
The amendment's adoption was celebrated by Black communities and abolitionist societies, many of which disbanded, believing their work was complete. It was seen as a significant step towards civil change and the fulfilment of promises made to African Americans.
Initially, the US Supreme Court interpreted the amendment narrowly, and voter suppression continued due to discriminatory laws and practices. In the 20th century, the Court began to interpret the amendment more broadly, striking down discriminatory provisions and enforcing the right to be free from racial discrimination in voting.
