United State Constitution 15th Amendment

Amendment XV (1870)

Section 1. 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.

Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

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The 15th Amendment of the United States Constitution, ratified in 1870, stands as a pivotal milestone in the nation's history, as it sought to dismantle the barriers to suffrage based on race or color. This landmark amendment declared that the right to vote could not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Such a profound declaration marked a crucial step towards ensuring equality and civil rights for all citizens, particularly for African Americans who had long been disenfranchised. Although challenges and discriminatory practices persisted beyond the amendment's enactment, it undeniably laid the groundwork for progress and the ongoing fight for voting rights and societal equity.