The Secretary of State certifies the 15th Amendment as adopted, formally guaranteeing that the right to vote cannot be denied on account of race.
At a Glance
- Date
- 30 March 1870
- Location
- Washington, D.C.
- Key people
- Hamilton Fish
- Category
- Law & Justice
- Source
- 15th Amendment proclamation, March 30, 1870 · National Archives
What It Meant Then
It completed the constitutional enfranchisement of Black men.
What It Means Now
The day is marked as the formal entry of Black voting rights into the Constitution.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “The 15th Amendment Is Proclaimed in Effect.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-15th-amendment-is-proclaimed-in-effect/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). The 15th Amendment Is Proclaimed in Effect. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-15th-amendment-is-proclaimed-in-effect/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “The 15th Amendment Is Proclaimed in Effect.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-15th-amendment-is-proclaimed-in-effect/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.