Lesson 22 of 84 · The Constitution
⭐ 30 XP🏛️ Civic SquareThe 15th Amendment: Right to Vote
The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on 'race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
🎯 Your mission
Spot the fair part. Spot the unfair part.
⚡ The twist
A 'fair rule' for one group can be unfair for another.
Mind = Blown
🤯 Some laws on the books are over 800 years old and still apply.
Then & Now
🏛️ The rule you'll meet today is still on the books — sort of.
The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on 'race, color, or previous condition of servitude.' This amendment was a crucial development in the post-Civil War era, as it aimed to secure voting rights for African American men and combat the discriminatory practices that had emerged after the war. Despite its ratification, various states implemented laws to circumvent this amendment, leading to ongoing struggles for voting rights that would continue for decades.
Key Facts
The 15th Amendment was ratified in 1870.
It prohibits voting discrimination based on race or color.
It aimed to secure voting rights for African American men.
Timeline
The Transcontinental Railroad is completed
Women gain the right to vote (19th Amendment)
The Great Depression begins
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 2What does the 15th Amendment prohibit?
Why this still matters
Your school has rules. Where do they come from? Who decides them?
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Make up a fair rule for your family. Pitch it.
For the dinner table
“What's one rule at our house you'd change if you could vote on it?”
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