15th and 18th Constitutional Amendments

15th Amendment - Right to Vote

The 15th amendment was proposed by Congress on February 26, 1869. It was ratified on February 3, 1870. This amendment does not guarantee the right to vote to African Americans or anyone else. This amendment does forbid the States from discriminating against any person on the grounds of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

The 15th amendment was created right after the civil war to give equal voting opportunities for African Americans, other minority, and other everyone else.

Today this amendment still gives an equal opportunity to everyone so they may vote. It gives everyone an equal say in political issues.

The 15th amendment still has issues today. Some people are intimidated and do not want to vote. Also, our rights to vote have been questioned during rallies and it has even been questioned by our presidential candidates.

18th Amendment - Prohibition of Intoxicating Liquors

The 18th amendment was proposed by congress on December 18, 1917. It was ratified on January 16, 1919. This outlawed the making, selling, transporting, importing, or exporting of alcoholic beverages in the US. This amendment was repealed by the 21st amendment in 1933.

The 18th amendment was created by activists who thought that alcohol was tearing apart our country. They thought that alcohol was causing excess violence and grief between families.

 It was repealed in its entirety in 1933. It really opened up the gates to organized crime.

Today some want to change the legal drinking age to 18. Organized crime is still a huge issue. Also some states want to ban alcohol again.