Woman’s and African American Male suffrage
The writers of the United States Constitution included an amending process to respond to changing times and
unforeseen circumstances. Since the Civil War, important amendments have had an impact on the United
States and/or on American society.
Task: Select two amendments to the United States Constitution since the Civil War and for each:
1) Describe the historical circumstances surrounding the adoption of the amendment
2) Discuss the impact of this amendment on the United States and/or on American society
You may use any constitutional amendment that has been added since the Civil War.
15th amendment—African American male suffrage (1870)
19th amendment—woman’s suffrage (1920)
Sample Solution
Woman`s and African Male suffrage
The 15th Amendment, which sought to protect the voting rights of African American men after the Civil War, was adopted into the U.S. Constitution in 1870. The main impetus behind the 15th Amendment was the Republican desire to entrench its power in both the North and the South. Black votes would help accomplish that end. The measure was passed by Congress in 1869, and was quickly ratified by the requisite three-fourths of the states in 1870. In effect, the 15th Amendment secured the right to vote for African American men. As many as one million African American men registered to vote throughout the South, where in many districts African Americans constituted the majority or near-majority of the population.
