15th Amendment
Definition
The 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen's "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." Ratified on February 3, 1870, it was a significant milestone in the effort to ensure African Americans had the right to participate in the political process.
Analogy
Imagine a game where initially only players wearing red shirts were allowed to play. The 15th Amendment is like changing the rules of the game so that everyone, regardless of their shirt color or if they previously didn't have a shirt, can now play.
Related terms
Suffrage: The right to vote in public elections.
Civil Rights Act of 1964: A landmark piece of civil rights legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Reconstruction Amendments: Refers collectively to the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to the United States Constitution which were aimed at establishing equality for freed slaves
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