What did the 15th Amendment guarantee?

The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, specifically guarantees that the right to vote cannot be denied or abridged based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. This amendment was a significant milestone in the struggle for civil rights for African Americans, particularly in the post-Civil War era when there was a strong push to secure voting rights following the abolition of slavery.

This amendment was instrumental in shaping the democratic landscape of the United States, as it aimed to ensure that all citizens, regardless of their racial background, had the opportunity to participate in the electoral process. It was part of the Reconstruction Amendments that sought to establish and protect the rights of formerly enslaved individuals.

In contrast, the other options do not reflect the core purpose of the 15th Amendment. For instance, voting rights for women were not addressed in the 15th Amendment; this issue would later be resolved with the 19th Amendment in 1920. Additionally, the 15th Amendment does not relate to property ownership prerequisites for voting, which were common in earlier voting laws but were phased out over time. Lastly, while free speech is an important aspect of democratic processes, the 15th Amendment does not specifically pertain to rights