Texes Social Studies Content Practice Exam

What occurred because of the Fifteenth Amendment?

1. Slavery was abolished

2. The Freedmen's Bureau was developed to round up missing African Americans

3. African American citizens were able to vote

4. African Americans were finally freed from slavery

The correct answer is: African American citizens were able to vote

The Fifteenth Amendment, ratified in 1870, was a significant step in the fight for civil rights as it granted African American men the legal right to vote. This amendment specifically prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude," thus securing a fundamental democratic right for African Americans in the United States. This change played a crucial role in the post-Civil War era, as it aimed to eliminate barriers to voting that had previously been accessible only to white males. While the abolition of slavery and other social changes were vital components of this period, the specific impact of the Fifteenth Amendment was the enfranchisement of African American voters, allowing them to participate in the political process and influence legislation.