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Freeing Slaves
The Emancipation Proclamation came out in 1863. Abraham Lincoln wrote it and it freed all slaves. Many slave owners did free their slaves right away. This is important in the pathway to African Americans voting because in order for them to become citizens and vote, they must be free from slavery. -
Giving Citizenship to Slaves
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was actually passed in 1865. This act gave citizenship to African Americans. It also gave them equal benfits and access to the law. This was vetoed by Andrew Jackson, so it almost didn't become official, but Congress overrode his veto. It was a good thing Congress overrode it because it is also on the path to African Americans getting voting rights. -
The Afican Americans decide to help change the minds of Congress
In Early 1869, 150 black men assembled in Washington D.C. for a Convention. This was the first national meeting of African Americans in US history. Frederick Douglas was the elected president. They did this during the debating of the 15th Amendment. They also met with members of Congress and tried to pursuade them to pass the Amendment. -
Proposing of 15th Amendment
On February 26, 1869, the 15th Amendment was passed to the states for Ratification. Congress contemplated the proposed amendment for about 2 months. There were several versions of it submitted, debated, rejected, and reconsidered in both the House and Congress. They eventually settled on the compromise that we see today. That compromise doesn't directly come out and say that the black man can vote. -
Ratifying the Amendment
On March 1, 1869, Nevada ratified the 15th Amendment. They were the first to do so. Congress passed a bill saying that Virginia, Mississippi, Texas, and Georgia must ratify it. They did so. It was passed with 29 out of rthe needed 28 ratifies. This included New York, who tried to revoke its ratification. 7 other states raitified it after it was added to the Constitution. -
Official 15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment was officially ratified on February 3, 1870. It states that the Federal and State Governments can not deny a male citizen to vote based on that citizen's race, color, or previous condition of sevitude. It was the 3rd and last of the Reconstruction Amendments. -
President Grant tells America
On March 30, 1870, President Grant held a press conference where he announced the Amendment as an official part of the Constitution. African Americans paraded through their towns, but more than 10,000 marched through the streets of Baltimore. -
Following the 15th Amendment
Only 1 day after the 15th Amendment was officially put into the Constitution, an African American man by the name of Thomas Mundy Peterson voted in an election. It was an election for the school board. He was the first person to take part in a voting. -
Effects
There was little effect for years after the amendment was added, especially in the South. The grandfather clause and poll tax kept blacks from voting. Congress and the Supreme Court tried to get rid of the restrictions with the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and the Voting Right act of 1965. -
Rice v. Cayetano
Harold (Freddy) RIce was of European descent and moved to Hawaii in the mid 19th Century. He wanted to register to vote in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs elections but was denied. They said he had to be of Native Hawaiian descent. It was taken to the Supreme Court and they ruled in 2000 that Hawaii couldn't restrict eligibilty to vote in elections for the OHA to just persons of Hawaiian descent. It was upheld under the 15th Amendment.
