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National Convention of Colored Men/Proposal
The National Convention of Colored Men took place in Syracuse, New York on October 4th, 1864. The convention had one hundred and forty-four delegates from eighteen out of thirty five states. The states were Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee. Frederick Douglass who was the conventions president, along with a few others wrote these proceedings to stop African American suffrage and to gain the right to vote. -
First Reconstruction Act
Following the end of the American Civil War in 1867 and the abolishment of slavery. The Republican dominated Congress passed the First Reconstruction Act over the veto of President Andrew Johnson. This act divided the South into five military districts. It would outline how new governments based on "universal manhood suffrage" were to be established. -
Approval By Congress
On February 26, 1869, after rejecting so many versions of a suffrage amendment Congress proposed a compromise amendment banning franchise restrictions on the basis of race, color, or previous servitude. -
First State/States to Ratify
Nevada was the first state to ratify the amendment. Soon after other states would follow along. Among the first states would would be North Carolina which at this time was run by a Radical Reconstruction government. In April and December 1869 Congress passed Reconstruction bills mandating that Virginia, Mississippi, Texas and Georgia ratify the amendment so that they start regaining congressional representation. In response all 4 states would ratify the amendment. -
Added to Constitution
After a long difficult journey it finally is added to the Constitution. It states "rights 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." The amendment was meet with widespread celebration in the black community. -
The Enforcment Acts
These bills were passed by the United States Congress between 1870 to 1871. These acts were created to try and improve conditions for blacks and freed slaves. The Acts main target was the Ku Klux Klan. The goal of the acts was to create unity nationally where all races were considered equal within the law. -
Colfax Massacre/White Supremacists
This event happened on Easter Sunday. 62-153 black men were murdered by white southern militia men. All the men were trying to do was defend their right to vote. Some of the white men involved were part of the Government as well. Unfortunately some of these men arrested would be pardoned. -
United States Vs. Reese
This was the first U.S. Supreme court case interpreting the 15th Amendment. Reese felt that he was being discriminated when trying to vote. The court said the amendment prevents the States, or the United States from giving preference, in this particular situation, to one citizen of the United States over another on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. -
The Voting Act of 1965
This act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on August 6, 1965. It was aimed to bring down all of the legal barriers at the state and local levels that denied African Americans their right to vote under the 15th Amendment. -
Last state to ratify
Tennessee was the last state to finally ratify the amendment. After 127 years of it being added to the Constitution. The states Senator was embarrassed that they hadn't ratified it yet so they finally got it ratified.
