15th Amendment Reconstruction

Why was the passage of the 15th Amendment considered a significant step towards addressing racial inequalities and expanding democratic participation in the United States? This lesson examines the background and passage of the 15th amendment and the impact it had on the lives of newly freed peoples. Students will examine the provisions of the amendment and how it granted African American men the right to vote, prohibiting the denial of suffrage based on race, color, or previous servitude. They will critically think to conclude how the 15th amendment aimed to ensure equal access to the democratic process and combat the discriminatory voting practices prevalent during that time.

Included in this resource:

Do Now - Section 1 of the 15th amendment primary source excerpt with scaffolding questions
The Fifteenth Amendment reading passage with vocabulary and scaffolding questions
Application/Closing/Higher-Order Thinking Assessment: Why has the 15th Amendment had a lasting impact on the advancement of civil rights and the promotion of equal voting rights in the United States?
Answer key for teachers
★ Please Note: I execute this lesson with my 8th grade honors students and my 11th grade gen-ed students. Please make an executive decision whether or not this lesson can be executed with your students based upon the preview file. Thank you!

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