Thirteenth, Fourteenth, & Fifteenth Amendments

THE THIRTEENTH AMENDMENT (freed the slaves)

The Emancipation Proclamation was meant to free the slaves in the Confederate States, but the Confederate government did not recognize the Union President freeing their slaves. The Thirteenth Amendment, however, freed the slaves everywhere in the United States. Therefore, during reconstruction the rights of the African Americans were protected by the federal government.

THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT (citizenship of freed slaves)

This amendment overturned the Dred Scott decision and recognized the citizenship of all African Americans in all parts of the United States.

THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT (freed slaves right to vote)

This amendment said that all male citizens had the right to vote in all parts of the United States.