ss.7.c.3.7: 13th,14th, 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th amendment

There are twenty-seven amendments, although the first ten are usually the most recognizable, the other seventeen are equally as important. The most notable are the 13th, 14th, 15th, 19th, 24th, and the 26th. These six give minorities rights that previously weren’t given to them, such as voting rights and freedom. 

• The 13th amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude. Making it illegal and freeing all slaves at the time. 
• The 14th amendment gave African Americans citizenship. It also limited state governments, preventing them from making laws that that abridge a citizen’s rights.  
• The 15th amendment states that all men that are citizens of the U.S. are granted the right to vote regardless of what color or race they are. This amendment essentially strengthens the 14th amendment, however, women were still excluded from having suffrage. 
• Following the 15th amendment, the 19th amendment says that a person’s gender shouldn’t prevent them from having suffrage or voting rights. Before this amendment, a few states did allow women to vote, but most others had prohibited it. 
• Although people of color were given the right to vote by the 15th amendment, some states established poll taxes, which are fees for voting. This was basically a loophole some states used to prevent colored people from voting, as a majority were too poor to afford the tax. However, the 24th amendment abolished these poll taxes, making it illegal so those who are struggling financially can also vote. 
• At the time of when this amendment was ratified, the legal voting age was 21, though the minimum age for serving the military was 18. The soldiers at the time felt that if they were old enough to serve their country then they were old enough to vote. This was the 26th amendment, which lowered the voting age to 18 instead of 21.