Under the Reconstruction Acts of 1867, what was required in the new state constitutions?

• A. Women's suffrage
• B. Prohibition of literacy tests
• C. Immediate ratification of the 15th Amendment
• D. Black male suffrage

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that these laws aimed to reshape Southern politics by ensuring that the freed people could vote. The Reconstruction Acts required the new state constitutions to guarantee the vote to Black men, reflecting a fundamental shift from prewar restrictions to political inclusion for freedpeople. Along with this, states had to ratify the 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship and equal protection under the law. These moves were the conditions for readmission to the Union. Women’s suffrage, prohibiting literacy tests, or a mandate to immediately ratify the 15th Amendment were not the requirements set by these acts.