The 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified in 1870. It prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." This amendment aimed to ensure that African American men, who had been granted citizenship through the 14th Amendment, could participate in elections following the Civil War. Despite its ratification, the 15th Amendment faced significant challenges. Many states implemented discriminatory practices, such as literacy tests and poll taxes, to circumvent the amendment and suppress the voting rights of African Americans. It wasn't until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that many of these barriers were addressed more effectively.