What did the 15th Amendment specifically ensure?

The 15th Amendment specifically ensured that voting rights cannot be denied based on race or previous condition of servitude. Ratified in 1870, this amendment was a crucial step in the post-Civil War era aimed at providing African American men the right to vote. It was designed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting, affirming that the right to vote should not be contingent upon a person’s race or whether they had been enslaved. This amendment laid the groundwork for future civil rights advancements and was essential in fostering a more inclusive democracy.

The other options relate to different historical contexts. The right to vote being protected for women is guaranteed by the 19th Amendment, not the 15th. The abolition of slavery is addressed in the 13th Amendment, while fair collection of income tax relates to the 16th Amendment. Each of these addresses distinct aspects of rights and government functions, illustrating how the 15th Amendment is uniquely focused on race and voting rights.