Hillarysworld

Sexism & Racism in the US

In contrast: The 15th Amendment

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

'The Fifteenth Amendment is the third of the Reconstruction Amendments. This amendment prohibits the states and the federal government from using a citizen's race,[1] color or previous status as a slave as a voting qualification. Its basic purpose was to enfranchise former slaves. While some states had permitted the vote to former slaves even before the ratification of the Constitution, this right was rare, not always enforced and often under attack. The North Carolina Supreme Court upheld this right of free men of color to vote; in response, amendments to the North Carolina Constitution removed the right in 1835.[2] Granting free men of color the right of to vote could be seen as giving them the rights of citizens, an argument explicitly made by Justice Curtis's dissent in Dred Scott v. Sandford:

Of this there can be no doubt. At the time of the ratification of the Articles of Confederation, all free native-born inhabitants of the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and North Carolina, though descended from African slaves, were not only citizens of those States, but such of them as had the other necessary qualifications possessed the franchise of electors, on equal terms with other citizens.[3]

The original House and Senate draft of the Amendment said the right to vote and to be a candidate would not be denied or abridged by the States based on race, color or creed.[4] This was eventually omitted due to the desire among many Northern Republicans to leave their own laws limiting black participation in government intact. The Amendment did not establish true universal male suffrage partly because Southern Republicans were afraid to undermine loyalty tests, which the Reconstruction state governments used to limit the influence of ex-Confederates.[5]

The first African American to vote after the adoption of this amendment was Thomas Mundy Peterson, who cast his ballot in a school board election being held in Perth Amboy, New Jersey on March 31, 1870.[6] On a per capita and absolute basis, more blacks were elected to political office during the period from 1865 to 1880 than at any other time in American history. Although no state elected a black governor during Reconstruction, a number of state legislatures were effectively under the control of a substantial African American caucus. These legislatures brought in programs that are considered part of government's duty now, but at the time were radical, such as universal public education. They also set aside all racially biased laws, including anti-miscegenation laws (laws prohibiting interracial marriage).

Despite the efforts of groups like the Ku Klux Klan to intimidate black voters and white Republicans, assurance of federal support for democratically elected southern governments meant that most Republican voters could both vote and rule in confidence. For example, when an all-white mob attempted to take over the interracial government of New Orleans, President Ulysses S. Grant sent in federal troops to restore the elected mayor."

This is so interesting. I knew African American men were able to vote before women, but I surely didn't know that: "On a per capita and absolute basis, more blacks were elected to political office during the period from 1865 to 1880 than at any other time in American history."

I love history.

Lynne wrote:

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Makes me wonder what happened afterwards that changed the political power of the African American community? Or was there a change in power? I don't know. But America needs to remember that the country has had some accomplishments in democracy and equality. It has not been perfect and much needs to be done, but US history is not solely about the KKK running lose. There needs to be some pride in what has been accomplished as we move forward to continue the progress. In addition to white guilt there needs to be some pride that there were people trying and dying to make a difference. Guilt is not enough to make the changes because guilt tends to make people want to hide or shy away from an issue out of embarassment.

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What happened was poll taxes and lynchings in the South
Yes there has been a lot of progress made for African Americans and the proof of that is the 44th President of the United States.
I agree with you about making people feel guilty.  The Past is Past
Now lets make sure No 45 is a woman