The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, aimed to protect the voting rights of African American men by prohibiting the federal and state governments.

From denying the right to vote based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." This amendment was a significant milestone in the Reconstruction era, reflecting efforts to ensure political participation for formerly enslaved individuals. However, despite its passage, many Southern states employed discriminatory practices, such as literacy tests and poll taxes, to effectively disenfranchise Black voters for decades.