First, let’s take a look at what the ratification of the 14th amendment meant. The Fourteenth Amendment gave citizenship to all people who were born or naturalized (a non-citizen who earns citizenship) in the U.S., including former slaves. It also allowed the government the ability to reduce representation in Congress for states that interfered with a person’s right to vote.
The Fifteenth Amendment focused on not allowing states the ability to deny someone their right to vote based on their race, color, or previous enslavement. States could, however, choose how citizens qualify to vote. Some southern states required people pay taxes to vote or take a literacy (reading and writing) test.
By allowing everyone who is a citizen (including former slaves) to participate in voting and electing government officials, this provided a way for all to be represented. Some changes still needed to be made, as seen in the Fifteenth Amendment. The creation of these amendments paved the way for future laws to be passed including the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act. They ensured that all voters, regardless of skin color or race, would be seen as equals, be present, and be heard in political matters.
