The Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified in 1870 and granted African American men the right to vote. It reads: "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."
The Fifteenth Amendment was a significant milestone in the struggle for civil rights in the United States. It marked the first time that the Constitution explicitly granted voting rights to a specific group of people based on race. However, the amendment did not immediately result in full political participation for African Americans, as many states implemented discriminatory practices such as literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses to prevent black men from voting.
The Fifteenth Amendment also led to the emergence of African American politicians, who were elected to local, state, and federal offices in the years following its ratification. These politicians worked to pass laws to protect the rights of African Americans and to promote social and economic equality.
Overall, the Fifteenth Amendment was a significant step forward in the struggle for civil rights and paved the way for future efforts to expand voting rights and end racial discrimination in the United States.