Read the following example of legal voting rights in Ohio in 1803 and the Fifteenth Amendment. Describe how the Fifteenth Amendment was an effort to reconcile the discrepancy between American ideals and public policies.

Question

Ohio State Constitution

“In all elections, all white male inhabitants above the age of twenty-one years, having resided in the State one year next preceding the election, and who have paid or are charged with a State or county tax, shall enjoy the right of an elector; but no person shall be entitled to vote, except in the county or district in which he shall actually reside at the time of the election . . . .”

Fifteenth Amendment

“SECTION 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

SECTION 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”

Congress passed a law that removed voting restrictions based on race.
Congress passed a law that removed voting restrictions based on race.

Congress passed a law that removed voting restrictions based on gender.
Congress passed a law that removed voting restrictions based on gender.

Interest groups pressured lawmakers in Ohio to remove voting restrictions based on race.
Interest groups pressured lawmakers in Ohio to remove voting restrictions based on race.

Social movements organized at the grassroots level in Ohio to demonstrate against the law that restricts voting based on race.

Answer 1

The Ohio State Constitution of 1803 embodies the early American ideal of democracy by allowing voting rights to a specific subset of the population—namely, white male inhabitants over the age of twenty-one who met certain residency and tax requirements. This reflects a narrow interpretation of citizenship and participation in government, effectively excluding women, people of color, and those without property from exercising the fundamental right to vote, which is a cornerstone of democratic governance.

In contrast, the Fifteenth Amendment, ratified in 1870, represents a significant effort to reconcile the contradictions between American democratic ideals—that all men are created equal and have the right to participate in their governance—and the reality of restrictive voting practices that disproportionately disenfranchised racial minorities. The amendment explicitly prohibits the denial of voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude, thereby expanding the democratic franchise and striving to fulfill the promise of equality under the law.

The passage of the Fifteenth Amendment can be seen as a direct response to societal pressures and the ongoing struggle for civil rights among African Americans, particularly in the wake of the Civil War and the abolition of slavery. It was an acknowledgment that American ideals, which professed liberty and equality, were not being realized for a significant portion of the population. By enshrining these protections in the Constitution, the United States aimed to align its laws with the ethical principles of justice and equality that it professed to uphold.

Furthermore, the various legislative efforts mentioned—such as Congress passing laws to remove voting restrictions based on race and gender—demonstrate ongoing attempts to address historical injustices and expand voting rights in alignment with the democratic ideals enshrined in the Constitution. Social movements and grassroots organizing played crucial roles in this process, pressuring lawmakers to enact changes that would make voting more equitable. This interplay of legal reform and social activism illustrates the continual struggle to reconcile the foundational American belief in equality and democracy with the reality of discriminatory practices against marginalized groups. Thus, the Fifteenth Amendment and the subsequent legislative actions signify a crucial step towards realizing a more inclusive democracy consistent with American ideals.