The 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed by Congress on February 26, 1869, and ratified on February 3, 1870. The amendment prohibits the federal government and each state from denying or abridging a citizens right to vote "on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude". It granted African American men the right to vote, making it illegal to deny them the right to vote based on their race or previous status as a slave. However, it did not confer the right of suffrage upon anyone. The Congress was given the power to enforce this amendment by appropriate legislation. The 15th Amendment was a significant step towards equality, but it was not until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that the federal government took action to ensure that African Americans could fully participate in American public and civic life.