---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In 1870 in response to the Fifteenth…"
description: "\"“In 1870 in response to the Fifteenth Amendment, the citizens of Michigan made a simple but far-reaching alteration to their 1850 constitution. They st..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/richard-white-40288_quote_in-1870-in-response-to-the-fifteenth-ame_2141387.jpg"
---

#  In 1870 in response to the Fifteenth Amendment, the…

![“In 1870 in response to the Fifteenth Amendment, the citizens of Michigan made a simple but far-reaching alteration to their 1850 constitution. They struck out the word “white.” quote by Richard White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/richard-white-40288_quote_in-1870-in-response-to-the-fifteenth-ame_2141387.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/richard-white-40288_quote_in-1870-in-response-to-the-fifteenth-ame_2141387.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/richard-white-40288_quote_in-1870-in-response-to-the-fifteenth-ame_2141387.jpg)

> ““In 1870 in response to the Fifteenth Amendment, the citizens of Michigan made a simple but far-reaching alteration to their 1850 constitution. They struck out the word “white.””

[Richard White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-white/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Michigan removed the word “white” from its constitution to broaden voting rights after the Fifteenth Amendment.

**In simple terms:** Michigan deleted “white” to expand suffrage.

Key Takeaway

Recognize how language changes can reshape rights.

Themes

rights law inclusion

Mood

reflective historical

Type

educational analytical

When to use this quote

- voting reforms
- legal drafting
- civil rights activism

Key Concepts

civil rights constitutional amendment racial equality

Questions to Reflect On

- How does altering language affect societal inclusion?
- What other legal terms could be updated for equity?

A Different Perspective

Legal changes may face resistance or incomplete implementation.

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[1850 Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/1850-constitution-4461312/) [Alteration 1850](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alteration-1850-4461310/) [Amendment Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment-citizens-4461311/) [Constitution Struck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-struck-4461309/) [Fifteenth Amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fifteenth-amendment-1931810/)

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