What did the 15th Amendment primarily address?

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Study for the Texas AandM University HIST106 Exam. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Gear up for success!

The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, primarily addressed the issue of voting rights for African American men by prohibiting the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." This was a significant development in the context of the post-Civil War United States, as it aimed to ensure that newly freed African American males had the legal right to participate in elections, thereby promoting greater equality in the political sphere.

The amendment was part of the Reconstruction Amendments, which were designed to integrate formerly enslaved people into the fabric of American society and guarantee their rights. While the amendment focused specifically on racial discrimination in voting, it did not address women's suffrage or other broader issues of equality, making it clear that the focus was on safeguarding voting rights for men regardless of their racial background.