Other Important* Amendments 13, 14, 15, 19, 24, 26

1865 Civil War Ends. Then… 13th Amendment 1865 14th Amendment 1868 All three amendments had to do with African- Americans, the abolition of enslavement in the United States, and voting rights

13th Amendment What it says… Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

13th Amendment Abolished slavery Established freedom for African-Americans President Lincoln was afraid the Emancipation Proclamation would be seen as a war measure and wouldn’t be upheld when the war ended

14th Amendment What it says… All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

14th Amendment Formally defines citizenship Provides that African-Americans are citizens of the United States Civil Rights Act of 1866 was passed, providing that African-Americans were citizens Amendment was passed to prevent the Supreme Court from declaring the 1866 Civil Rights Act unconstitutional. Also passed in response to Black Codes passed by Southern states after the Civil War and in response to violence against African-Americans

15th Amendment What it says… The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

15th Amendment Provided voting rights for African-Americans Voting cannot be denied based on skin color or previous status as a slave Some members of Congress refused to vote for this Amendment because it didn’t make literacy tests or poll taxes illegal

Reconstruction Amendments 13th 14th Citizens 15th Vote

19th Amendment What it says… The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

19th Amendment The right to vote cannot be denied because of a person’s gender Women were guaranteed the right to vote Amendment first introduced in 1878, not passed until 1920

24th Amendment What it says… The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.

24th Amendment Prohibited the use of poll taxes Poll taxes were used to prevent African-Americans from voting, and also kept poor whites from voting Passed 1964

26th Amendment What it says… The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.

26th Amendment Guaranteed the right to vote for 18 year-olds Passed 1971 Vietnam War – young men were drafted, but couldn’t vote

Why are there so many amendments related to voting?

Why is it a good thing to have more people vote?

What is a voter ID?

Do you think a voter ID is a good thing if it keeps some people from voting? Why? Why not?