15th Amendment
Right to Vote for African American men

For Kids - 15th Amendment - the right for African American men to vote

The 13th and 14th Amendments ended slavery and placed federal control over civil rights including that of citizenship. The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, went a step further, and clearly stated that citizens of the United States had the right to vote without regard to race, color, or previous condition of servitude. But it did limit the vote to men only. This was not corrected until, nearly 50 years later, the 19th Amendment ratified May 19, 1919 gave women the right to vote.

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.

The 13th Amendment - the end of slavery

The 14th Amendment - federal control over civil rights, citizenship, the end of Black Codes that limited equality

Other Amendments to the Constitution

Take the Quiz, interactive (with answers)

Free Online Games

For Teachers

Lesson Plans, Classroom Activities, Simulations, Projects, more