Existing comment:
The 15th Amendment
African Americans were emancipated by the 13th Amendment and promised equal protection under the laws by the 14th. Black men (not women) were given the vote by the 15th Amendment. Their votes were needed to keep Republicans in power. Each African American was no longer counted as 3/5 of [a] person -- a compromise provision in the Constitution. As a result, the southern states suddenly earned more representation in Congress. |