When the Civil War ended, it was important to take a major breakthrough and change the law of the land before losing any territory as reconstruction restored the nation to one country rather than the two warring parties. The social unrest that represented the abolition of slavery and the rapid growth of black history was so important that it was necessary to make permanent amendments to the constitutional amendments so that the benefits derived from that bloody war would not be lost.
The work that had to be done to transform the nation from slavery to equality began with three fundamental amendments to the constitution. The Thirteenth Amendment permanently abolished slavery and the Fourteenth Amendment reversed the effects of Dred Scott's decision, which provided equal protection under the law to all citizens of this country, regardless of race, color, or creed.
But the 15th Amendment went beyond just establishing the basic human rights of African American society. It made change so fundamental to the way America operated that its effects were widespread and far to this day. The text of the amendment is straightforward and beautiful ...
The right of citizens to the United States to vote may not be denied or restricted by the United States or any other State on the basis of race, color, or previous status.
This was a major leap into the black community when the amendment was approved on February 3, 1870 because it eventually meant that African Americans in the country could stand up for themselves and start making political markings with them on how decisions were made. It was a moment of pride when the first black person to vote arrived the next day when Thomas Mundy Peterson was voting in a school board election in the city of Perth Amboy, New Jersey.
But like other major developments in black history, getting the right to vote did not make it easier to vote automatically. There has been strong opposition to allowing blacks to go to the polls in many communities across the country. The Klu Klux Klan is carrying out intimidation tactics to try to prevent African Americans from running in elections. In Louisiana, a mob trying to establish legally elected and co-ordinated local government forces had to disperse the troops of the organization sent by Ulysses S.
Perhaps the biggest threat to the actual implementation of the 15th Amendment was the introduction of voting taxes and other registration strategies used such as literacy tests and voter eligibility tests specifically designed to deny voting rights to African Americans. This practice became so problematic that it encouraged the passing of the 24th Amendment which prohibited voting taxes that were intended solely to rob African Americans of the right to vote.
But these desperate attempts have not been able to stop the march on justice and democracy to ensure that voting rights are available to all Americans. Blacks soon held positions of influence and decision-making in state legislatures and at the state level. It has been a long struggle but even in the last few decades we have seen high-profile and influential positions held by deserving African Americans such as Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice. And if Barrack Obama wins a democratic election, that will be another break for the proud and the proud;
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