1870 – Congress Enforces the 15th Amendment

On May 31, 1870, the U.S. Congress passed the Enforcement Act of 1870 to uphold the 15th Amendment, which granted Black men the right to vote. This legislation aimed to prevent voter suppression by outlawing discrimination at the polls and authorizing federal oversight of elections. It was a critical piece of Reconstruction-era civil rights legislation, addressing the violent backlash by white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan. Although enforcement was inconsistent and often undermined, the law marked one of the earliest federal attempts to protect Black political participation. May 31, 1870, is a crucial date in the history of Black suffrage, underscoring the fragile nature of voting rights and the ongoing struggle against systemic suppression. The Enforcement Act laid the groundwork for later civil rights laws and reminds us that protecting democracy requires vigilance, especially when racial equity is at stake.