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During the period of Reconstruction, THREE Amendments (the 13th, 14th, and 15th), known as the Reconstruction Amendments or Civil War Amendments, would be passed. These Amendments finally granted African Americans freedom from slavery, citizenship and equal protection under the law, and voting rights, all things they had been denied before. Unfortunately, (as you will learn), there would be many attempts to prevent African Americans from actually using these rights.
1865
1865
FREE
FREE
Abolished slavery in the United States, making it illegal to force someone to work without pay (except as punishment for a crime).
1868
1868
CITIZENS
CITIZENS
Granted citizenship to anyone born in the U.S. (except Native Americans at the time) and guaranteed all citizens equal protection under the law.
Remember me, Dred Scott? The Supreme Court ruled in Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) that I was to remain a slave and that African Americans were not citizens. Sadly I died in 1858 but had I lived long enough I would have finally been a citizen!
1870
1870
VOTE
VOTE
Gave African American men the right to vote, stating that the right to vote cannot be denied based on race.
African American men casting their ballots (voting)
Although the 14th and 15th Amendments were ratified, most Native Americans were still not considered U.S. citizens and did not receive those rights. Citizenship was granted to all Native Americans with the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, but many faced voting restrictions until as late as 1962.
Video is about 6 min, provides information about the Reconstruction Amendments
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