"The First Vote," November 16, 1867

    "The First Vote" Harper's Weekly Cover, 1867
    Courtesy of Library of Congress, Waud, A.R., "The First Vote," 16 November 1867

    Description

    This print shows African-American men, in dress indicative of their professions, in a queue waiting their turn to vote. It was featured as the cover of Harper's Weekly. The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted African-American men the right to vote by declaring that the "right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color or previous condition of servitude." Although ratified on February 3, 1870, the promise of the 15th Amendment would not be fully realized for almost a century. Through the use of poll taxes, literacy tests and other means, southern states severely oppressed African Americans' right to vote. It would take the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 before the majority of African Americans in the South were registered to vote.

    Source-Dependent Questions

    • Look closely at the clothing of each man in the line. Why is each man dressed differently? What does their clothing represent?
    • This image illustrates the first election in Virginia in which African Americans could participate due to the 15th Amendment, which declared that the "right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color or previous condition of servitude." How did the 15th Amendment work to stop oppression?
    • Why would oppressions, such as poll taxes and literacy tests, be put in place to try and stop African-American men from using their right to vote?

    Citation Information 

    Waud, A.R., "The First Vote," 16 November 1867. Courtesy of Library of Congress

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