The right to vote has been a longstanding issue for African Americans in the United States, with a long and complicated history. In the late 19th century, African Americans in the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.) were denied the right to vote, despite being citizens of the United States. In the years following the Civil War, Congress passed several civil rights acts that granted African Americans the right to vote in certain states, but these laws were often met with resistance and were often not enforced.
It wasn’t until the passage of the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1870 that African American men were granted the right to vote throughout the United States. Prior to this act, African American men in Washington, D.C. and throughout the United States had been denied the right to vote due to segregation and discriminatory voting laws.
The 15th Amendment of 1870 was a significant milestone in the fight for voting rights for African Americans. It granted African American men the right to vote and hold public office, and it was the first time that African Americans in the District of Columbia had the same voting rights as white Americans. Despite this significant step forward, it would take many more years and significant efforts before African Americans in other parts of the country would have the same rights and opportunities as white Americans.
References:
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/african-american-men-gain-right-to-vote-in-washington-dc
https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/15th-amendment
