The Black Man and the 15th Amendment
The Republican Dilemma
- The right granted to blacks that provoked the greatest controversy, ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTH was black suffrage.
o Ironically, Southern states “allowed” the blacks to vote first (due to Congress passing a law in 1867 requiring former Confederate states to include black male suffrage, part of Republican plan to get more votes)
o After 1867, majority of the northern states continued to deny black male suffrage.
- Meanwhile Republican’s once huge voter majority in the North declining.
o One solution was to include black suffrage in northn states.
§ Republicans only assumed that northern blacks would vote the same as their brothers in South.
o HV idea of blacks voting in North not popular in the North.
o In fact, many northern states recently voted against male black suffrage.
- Republicans feared if they openly supported black male suffrage, significant number of white southern Republicans might support Democrats
o MW nominated Grant and for political reasons decided to let northn states settle the issue of black male suffrage among themselves.
The Fifteenth Amendment
- After Grant’s victory, Republicans wanted to introduce the 15th Amendment
o Radical Republicans introduced one version which specifically mentions votes given to those of African descent.
o Radicals also attempted to prevent voting taxes, literacy tests and other restrictions.
§ However due to weakening power of radical republicans, did not work.
- An even broader proposal included prohibiting discrimination in voting or holding office b/c of race, color, nationality, ownership of property, education, religious belief.
o Would have prevented states from making up their own voter qualifications, TF Congress voted against it.
- Eventually there was a compromise which did not mention African-Americans specifically or voting qualifications.
o Right of citizens to vote not to be abridged by race, color or previous condition of servitude.
- Ratifying the Amendment
o After approved by 2/3 majorities in House and Senate, had to be ratified by 28 states.
§ Previously 11 states of south already had black male suffrage due to reconstruction.
o MW Frederick Douglass argued for black male suffrage, first national meeting of blacks in 1869 which attempted to persuade Congress to pass a strong amendment
- Abolitionist and women response
o Most abolitionists felt 15th Amendment had not gone far enough to protect rights, but supported anyways.
§ Wendell Phillips supported it despite believing that it did not go far enough.
o Previously in Civil War, Elizabeth C. Stanton and Susan B. Anthony saw ending slavery as first priority.
o HV angered when this did not happen.
§ Horace Greeley – “this was the Negro’s hour”
o TF at the American Equal Rights Association Convention 1869 Elizabeth Stanton and Susan Anthony refused to support the 15th Amendment because it did not include women.
The Democrats
- Debated against the Amendment arguing it would restrict states’ rights to run their own elections.
o Charged Republicans w/ breaking their promise of allowing the states outside of the South to decide for themselves.
o Listed low literacy rates among blacks as reasons they should be denied the right.
Victory, then Tragedy
- Frederick Douglass rejoiced “What a country – fortunate in its institutions, in its Fifteenth Amendment, in its future.”
- HV as a result led to KKK and other intimidation groups.
- Election of 1876 ended in dispute over electoral votes.
o As a result southerners agreed to support Rutherbord B. Hayes in turn for the Republican promise to withdraw troops from South/abandon federal enforcement of black’s rights.
- TF soon southern governments required blacks to pay taxes, through voting taxes, literacy tests and more.
o In MS alone 67% black registration to vote in 1867 fell to 4% black registration to vote in 1892.
The political deal to secure Hayes as the president made the Fifteenth Amendement USELESS.
Another 75 years would pass before black voting rights were again enforced in the South.
0 comments:
Post a Comment