What is the significance of the 15th Amendment?

The 15th Amendment holds significant importance as it specifically prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Ratified in 1870, this amendment aimed to extend voting rights to African American men following the Civil War, thereby marking a critical step toward equality in the electoral process. While the amendment did not guarantee that all individuals could vote, as there were still barriers such as literacy tests and poll taxes, it laid the foundational principle that race should not restrict one’s ability to participate in the democratic process. This was a major advance for civil rights and helped set the stage for future legislation aimed at protecting voting rights for all.