"We, the colored citizens of Tennessee... respectfully represent that we are law-abiding, tax-paying, and patriotic citizens of the United States... we believe that no government can be republican in form where a large portion of its citizens are denied a voice in the selection of its rulers... We most respectfully but earnestly ask that the right of suffrage be extended to us..."
— Petition of Colored Citizens of Tennessee to the Union State Convention, 1865
Which of the following Reconstruction-era constitutional amendments was ratified to address the primary demand expressed in this petition?
- The Fifteenth Amendment, which prohibited the denial of franchise based on raceAnswer
- BThe Fourteenth Amendment, which defined national citizenship and guaranteed equal protection of the laws
- CThe Thirteenth Amendment, which officially abolished slavery and involuntary servitude
- DThe Civil Rights Act of 1866, which was passed during Presidential Reconstruction to guarantee voting rights
Answer
The Fifteenth Amendment, which prohibited the denial of franchise based on race
The correct answer is the option describing the Fifteenth Amendment. The petition expresses a demand for suffrage, which is the right to vote. The Fifteenth Amendment was ratified specifically to prevent states from denying citizens the franchise based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude, directly addressing the petition's core request.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Reconstruction Amendments