Although the 15th amendment was added to insure the voting rights of african american citizens this right was restricted by state

The 15th Amendment to the Constitution granted African American men the right to vote by declaring that the "right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." Although ratified on February 3, 1870, the promise of the 15th Amendment would not be fully realized for almost a century.

According to document 7, a U.S. Governor, wants to avoid war with Mexico by addressing possible consequences of the Mexican War to the president stating: "Oh Mr. President, if hell itself could yawn and vomit up its (insides) it would plunge the North and the South of the United States into a civil war". The Governor suggests that the U.S. should abandon all ideas of acquiring further territory and that The U.S government should cease the war immediately. He further suggests the army should be recalled and wash Mexican blood from our hands, and swear to preserve honorable peace with all the world and eternal brotherhood with each other.