National Convention of Colored Men:  Meeting in Washington, D.C., the group promoted suffrage for all American black men and the education of former slaves.

Fifteenth Amendment Proposed:  On February 25 and 26, the House and Senate, respectively, approved a constitutional amendment to prohibit denial of the franchise based on “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”  Secretary of State William Henry Seward then sent the proposed Fifteenth Amendment to the states for ratification or rejection.

Ratification Process: The Fifteenth Amendment was ratified by Nevada (March 1), West Virginia (March 3), Illinois (March 5), Louisiana (March 5), North Carolina (March 5), Michigan (March 8), Wisconsin (March 9), Maine (March 11), Massachusetts (March 12), Arkansas (March 15), South Carolina (March 15), and Pennsylvania (March 25).

April 1869

Reconstruction Bill:  Congress approved an amendment to the Reconstruction bill for Mississippi, Texas, and Virginia, requiring those states to ratify the Fifteenth Amendment before being readmitted to Congress. 

Ratification Process:  New York ratified the Fifteenth Amendment on April 14.

Ratification Process:  Indiana and Connecticut ratified the Fifteenth Amendment on May 14 and May 19, respectively.

Ratification Process:  Florida ratified the Fifteenth Amendment on June 14.

Ratification Process:  New Hampshire ratified the Fifteenth Amendment on July 1.

Ratification Process:  Virginia and Vermont ratified the Fifteenth Amendment on October 8 and October 20, respectively.

December 1869

Reconstruction in Georgia:  The Reconstruction bill for Georgia, which required it to ratify the Fifteenth Amendment before being reseated in Congress, was passed by the Senate on December 17 and the House on December 21.  President Grant signed it into law on December 22.

Ratification Process:  On January 5, New York revoked its previous ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment.  However, the Fifteenth Amendment was ratified by Missouri (January 7), Minnesota (January 13), Mississippi (January 17), Rhode Island (January 18), Kansas (January 19), and Ohio (January 27). 

Ratification Process:  The Fifteenth Amendment was ratified by Georgia (February 2), Iowa (February 3), Nebraska (February 17), and Texas (February 18).

Fifteenth Amendment Ratified:  On March 30, 1870, Secretary of State Hamilton Fish certified the Fifteenth Amendment duly approved by three-quarters of the states and henceforth part of the United States Constitution.  His certification of ratification by 29 states (one over the necessary three-quarters majority of 28) included New York, despite its legislative reversal on the issue in January.