Question

What was the importance of the 15th amendment to the civil rights movement?

a. It guaranteed voting rights to all Americans.
b. It abolished slavery.
c. It established equal protection under the law.
d. It granted citizenship to formerly enslaved individuals.

Answer 1

The 15th Amendment was important because it granted voting rights to Black men, making it a foundational step toward racial equality in voting, despite subsequent restrictive measures by states.

Step-by-step explanation:

The importance of the 15th Amendment to the civil rights movement was that it specifically granted voting rights to Black men, a monumental step in the quest for racial equality after the Civil War. While the amendment prohibited denying the right to vote based on 'race, color, or previous condition of servitude,' it didn't prevent states from imposing other restrictive measures such as literacy tests or property qualifications. Nevertheless, the 15th Amendment was a crucial foundation for voting rights, which civil rights activists would continue to fight for through the 20th century, culminating in the Voting Rights Act of 1965.