Final answer:
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments were landmark reforms that abolished slavery, provided citizenship and equal protection, and secured voting rights for Black men, respectively. While they provided a legal framework for civil rights, the actual realization of these rights was impeded by systemic discrimination, necessitating a continued struggle for true equality.
Step-by-step explanation:
- The ratification of the 13th Amendment marked a significant turning point by formally abolishing slavery in the United States.
- Following this, the 14th Amendment was crucial in granting citizenship and equal protection under the law to African Americans, and it notably countered the Supreme Court’s Dred Scott decision which previously declared that Black people could not be citizens.
- The 15th Amendment aimed to secure voting rights for Black men. Despite these advancements, African Americans continued to face systemic barriers, including the rise of 'Black codes', Jim Crow laws, and violent opposition to their rights.
The Civil War Amendments laid a legal foundation for future civil rights progress. Although equality was guaranteed on paper, it took additional years of struggle, including the Civil Rights Movement, to challenge and dismantle the laws and practices that were designed to uphold segregation and disenfranchisement.