Question

Year Black American Members White American Members Context/Policy
1860 0 124 Pre-Civil War
1868 75 49 1868 SC Constitution
1870 75 49 15th Amendment Ratified
1876 35 89 End of Reconstruction

Based on the table and the provided text, which best explains the change in the General Assembly's membership between 1860 and 1870?
A. The 13th Amendment's end of slavery automatically granted Black men the right to hold office.
B. The 15th Amendment and Congressional Reconstruction protected the right of Black men to vote and run for office.
C. The Freedmen’s Bureau successfully convinced White Democrats to share political power with formerly enslaved people.
D. The South Carolina Land Commission required that all landowners serve at least one term in the state legislature.

Answer 1

B. The 15th Amendment and Congressional Reconstruction protected the right of Black men to vote and run for office.

Explanation: The jump from 0 Black members in 1860 to 75 by 1868–1870 reflects the effects of Reconstruction—new state constitutions (e.g., SC 1868), federal enforcement, and the 15th Amendment expanding and protecting Black male suffrage—allowing formerly enslaved men to vote and hold office. The 13th Amendment ended slavery but did not guarantee political rights (A), and C and D are not supported by the historical record.