U.S. History STAAR ( State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) Practice Test

What does the Fifteenth Amendment protect?

1. Rights of women to vote

2. Voting rights of all citizens regardless of race

3. Freedom of speech

4. Right to bear arms

The correct answer is: Voting rights of all citizens regardless of race

The Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution specifically addresses the voting rights of citizens, stating that the right to vote cannot be denied or abridged on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Ratified in 1870, this amendment was a significant milestone in the Reconstruction Era, aimed at ensuring that formerly enslaved people and their descendants would have the legal right to participate in elections and the democratic process. By emphasizing that voting rights must not be based on race, the amendment sought to address the injustices and discrimination that had been prevalent under slavery and to promote a more inclusive political system. The Fifteenth Amendment is often regarded as a critical step towards achieving equality and civil rights in the United States, as it laid the foundation for further advancements in voting rights legislation in the years to come, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965.