GED Social Studies - 15th Amendment
Data Absorbing > Given Paragraph > Speech
Important Instructions
Please read and answer 23 Questions carefully within
TIME LIMIT 30 min.
The 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on February 3, 1870. It prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." This amendment was a significant victory for the civil rights movement and aimed to secure the voting rights of African American men following the Civil War. Despite its passage, many states employed various tactics, such as literacy tests and poll taxes, to circumvent the amendment and disenfranchise Black voters.
The 15th Amendment laid the groundwork for future civil rights legislation, and its ideals continue to resonate in contemporary discussions about voting rights and racial equality in the United States.
Notable Speeches Related to the 15th Amendment
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Woodrow Wilson - "The New Freedom" (1913)
- Context: President Wilson emphasized reforms that were essential for democracy, highlighting the need for the direct election of Senators.
- Speech:
“We shall have to enter... into an era of a new freedom... This is the only way we can secure a system of government that is truly representative.”
- Full Text: The New Freedom
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Martin Luther King Jr. - "I Have a Dream" (1963)
- Context: In his famous speech delivered during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, King advocated for civil and economic rights for African Americans.
- Speech:
“I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.”
- Full Text: I Have a Dream
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Frederick Douglass - "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" (1852)
- Context: Douglass’s powerful oration tackles the hypocrisy of celebrating freedom while slavery persists, highlighting the struggle for African American rights.
- Speech:
“What to the American slave is your Fourth of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.”
- Full Text: What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?
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John Lewis - "When We Were Kings" (2016)
- Context: Civil rights leader John Lewis reminisces about the struggle for voting rights during his speech at the funeral of Muhammad Ali, connecting past struggles to ongoing fights for justice.
- Speech:
“We are one people. We are one family. We all live in the same house. We all have the same Dream.”
- Full Text: Available through various media here.
This compilation reflects key thoughts during the Progressive Era and Civil Rights Movement, emphasizing the continuous struggle for racial equality and voting rights that have shaped modern America.
Year | Event | Description | Impact |
---|---|---|---|
1865 | 13th Amendment Ratified | Abolished slavery in the United States. | Marked the beginning of the end of slavery and a new fight for rights. |
1870 | 15th Amendment Ratified | Granted African American men the right to vote. | Enabled Black males to participate in the political process, though many faced new obstacles. |
1965 | Voting Rights Act Passed | Prohibited racial discrimination in voting practices. | Enforced the voting rights guaranteed by the 15th Amendment and increased voter registration among African Americans. |
2013 | Supreme Court Strikes Down Voting Rights Act Provisions | Invalidated key protections for voters in minority communities. | Raised concerns about voter suppression and discrimination returning. |
2020 | George Floyd Protests | Nationwide protests against police brutality and racial injustice. | Reignited discussions around voting rights and systemic racism in the U.S., emphasizing the importance of historical amendments. |
2021 | For the People Act Proposed | Legislation aimed at expanding voting rights. | Represents the ongoing struggle to protect and expand access to voting amidst numerous state-level restrictions. |