Historical Political Cartoon: XVth Amendment and Voter Suppression #3856691 (License: Personal Use)

This 1870s lithograph caricatures a Black man voting while swatting away insects labeled with state abbreviations (NY, NJ, DE, KY, MD, CA), symbolizing Northern opposition to Black enfranchisement. The figure’s exaggerated features reflect prevalent racist stereotypes of the era, and the caption mocks both the 15th Amendment and the resistance it faced. The ballot box rests atop a book-likely referencing the Constitution-highlighting the tension between legal rights and social prejudice.

Used in educational resources, museum exhibits, and academic articles on Reconstruction-era racism, disenfranchisement, and the visual rhetoric of political cartoons. Matches user intent for historical analysis, primary source interpretation, or understanding systemic barriers to voting rights.