When did African Americans get the vote?

February 3, 1870

That was the date of the ratification of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Section 1 of which states "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." However, throughout the following century there were still many attempts to keep African-Americans from voting, mainly through intimidation, especially in southern states. Another tactic used was "poll taxes", charging people to vote in order to discourage the poor from voting. The 24th Amendment, ratified on January 23, 1964, made poll taxes unconstitutional.