Voting Rights Won
African Americans gain the right to vote!
February 3, 1870
Many African Americans across the country are rejoicing with the news. Famous abolitionist Frederick Douglass response: "What a country — fortunate in its institutions, in its 15th amendment, in its future."
While this is a step in the right direction for the United States, the country still as along path to equality. Violence towards African Americans in the South continues with the rise of violent hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan.
As the federal government exercises its power, there is still uncertainty in the South as government officials simply have no response to the state legislation being passed that continues to segregate the races. Hopefully the federal government will take the necessary steps to ensure the Constitution is upheld.
Even with the violence, today should been viewed as a victory for African Americans across the county.