Fifteenth Amendment

The Fifteenth Amendment, ratified in 1870, is a crucial part of the U.S. Constitution that prohibits the federal and state governments from denying citizens the right to vote based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." This amendment was designed to ensure that African American men and other marginalized groups could participate in the democratic process after the Civil War. Although it aimed to protect voting rights, various discriminatory practices continued to limit access to the ballot for many individuals until later civil rights legislation was enacted.