The Fifteenth Amendment Explored

Worksheet Description

This worksheet explores the Fifteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which is a pivotal development in the fight for civil rights, enshrining the right to vote for citizens regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. It explains how the amendment aimed to eliminate racial barriers to voting that persisted after the Civil War, particularly those affecting African American men. The passage of the amendment represents a significant victory in the struggle for equal rights and enfranchisement. The worksheet also acknowledges the challenges that continued after its ratification, including acts of violence and legal loopholes that still impeded African Americans’ right to vote.

The worksheet is designed to teach students about the significant role the Fifteenth Amendment played in shaping American democracy. It educates them on the historical context of voting rights post-Civil War and the legal and extralegal measures that were employed to prevent African Americans from voting. Students learn about the broader struggle for civil rights and how the amendment forms part of the Constitution’s enduring effort to realize the promise of equality. Furthermore, it discusses the continued challenges to voting rights, such as those addressed by the Voting Rights Act of 1965, underscoring the ongoing nature of the fight for equal suffrage in American history.