The group that gained more political participation when amendments were added to the Constitution primarily includes African Americans.
- Thirteenth Amendment (1865): Abolished slavery, which was a crucial step towards granting African Americans rights and freedoms.
- Fourteenth Amendment (1868): Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former enslaved people, and provided equal protection under the laws.
- Fifteenth Amendment (1870): Prohibited the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude."
While Native Americans and Asian Americans faced various legal barriers and discrimination that limited their political participation, significant changes for them came later through other legislation and court decisions rather than directly through amendments to the Constitution at the same time as those affecting African Americans. For instance, Native Americans were not considered U.S. citizens until 1924, and many states found ways to keep them from voting even after that. Asian Americans faced similar restrictions until the mid-20th century.