15th Amendment
Definition
The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (1870) prohibited governments from denying U.S. citizens the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Analogy
Imagine if your favorite social media platform suddenly decided only people with blue profile pictures could post comments. That wouldn't be fair at all! The same principle applies here - just like everyone should have an equal chance to voice their opinion online regardless their profile picture's color; similarly through this amendment everyone has an equal right to vote irrespective their race/color/previous condition.
Related terms
Black Suffrage: Refers to black people's right to vote.
Reconstruction Era (1865-1877): Period after the Civil War during which the Southern states were reorganized and reintegrated into the Union.
Jim Crow Laws: State and local laws enforcing racial segregation in the Southern United States.
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- What is the significance of the 15th Amendment?
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