U.S. Constitution - 15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted African-American men—including former slaves who had become U.S. citizens via the 14th Amendment—the right to vote. It was ratified in 1870.
This is its text:
Amendment XV
Section 1. 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.
Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
NOTE that "gender" is not included in the amendment. The absence of that word meant that American women were not allowed to vote via the 15th Amendment. That issue was resolved by the 19th Amendment which was ratified on August 18, 1920.
Media Credits
This image depicts the Congressional Resolution which led to passage of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Online via the U.S. National Archives. Public Domain.
