These amendments were passed after the bill of rights: image that lists the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth amendments to the constitution and what they protect. thirteenth, protects americans from slavery; fourteenth, laws apply equally, or in the same way, for all citizens, fifteenth, the right of citizens to vote no matter what their race or ethnicity what were these amendments meant to do? stop efforts to charge poll taxes create special voting zones protect rights of african-americans punish the south after the civil war