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Welcome! Today we will explore how brave citizens changed America by fighting for their civil rights.
The civil rights movement is a long journey that started after the Civil War. To trace this history, we look at key amendments to the Constitution. The 13th Amendment ended slavery, the 14th promised equal protection under the law, and the 15th gave Black men the right to vote.
The fight for voting rights did not stop there. In 1920, the 19th Amendment was passed, which gave women the right to vote. This was another huge step forward in making sure every citizen had a voice in our government.
The civil rights movement grew stronger in the 1950s and 1960s. Brave leaders organized peaceful protests, marches, and boycotts to fight unfair laws. They used these tools to demand that the promises of the 14th and 15th Amendments finally be kept for everyone.
Trace the development of voting rights from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. Explain how the 15th Amendment and the 19th Amendment are connected in this timeline.
- Identify the starting point: The 15th Amendment was ratified in 1870. It stated that citizens could not be denied the right to vote based on race.
- Identify the next major milestone: In 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified. This expanded voting rights further by banning voter discrimination based on sex.
- Analyze the connection: Both amendments expanded who could participate in American democracy. They both changed the Constitution to protect groups that were previously left out.
- Explain the limitation: Even with these amendments, many Black citizens still faced unfair barriers like poll taxes. The struggle continued until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 removed those barriers.
