the 15th amendment

~Prohibits the federal governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen's "race, and state color, or previous condition of servitude."

The 15th amendment protects the rights of the american to vote in elections to elect their leaders. ~ The 15th amendment purpose was to ensure that states, or communities, were not denying people the right to vote simply based on their race.

According to the website Study.com, During Reconstruction, many southern states sent their Confederate leadership to Washington, D.C. as representation and found ways to 'discriminate' against former slaves. Most states limited voting to white men only and all states used black codes, which were laws to limit the rights of former slaves. This limited voting was overturned by Amendment 15.

~ Passed by Congress February 26, 1869 and ratified February 3, 1870

~ Formally adopted into the U.S. Constitution on March 30, 1870. Passed by Congress the year before.