Women’s Equality Day
Women’s Right to Vote in the United States
August 26, (1920)

Number of female heads of state to date: 0

The National Women’s History Project

Women’s Equality Day

Women’s Equality Day commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting the right to vote to women. The amendment was first introduced in 1878. In 1971, the U.S. Congress designated August 26 as Women’s Equality Day.
› nwhp.org/womens-equality-day/10-ideas-for-womens-equality-day/

The women’s right to vote in the United States, also known as women’s suffrage, has a history marked by a long and challenging struggle that culminated in the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920.

The women’s suffrage movement in the United States emerged in the mid-19th century, driven by activists and organizations advocating for equal political rights for women. The movement gained momentum over the years, with suffragettes organizing marches, protests, and engaging in civil disobedience to raise awareness and push for change.

In 1848, the first women’s rights convention, known as the Seneca Falls Convention, was held in New York. It was a pivotal moment for the suffrage movement, as it issued a Declaration of Sentiments calling for women’s right to vote. This event set the stage for subsequent advocacy and activism.

The suffrage movement faced significant opposition and encountered resistance from traditional gender roles, societal norms, and powerful anti-suffrage groups. However, suffragettes persisted in their efforts, employing various strategies such as lobbying, public speeches, and legal challenges to advance their cause.

After decades of campaigning and struggle, the tide began to turn in favor of suffrage. In 1919, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. The amendment stated, “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 sex.” It was a significant victory for women’s rights.

On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the 19th Amendment, reaching the necessary three-fourths majority of states required for its adoption. On August 26, 1920, the amendment was certified, officially granting women the right to vote throughout the United States.

The ratification of the 19th Amendment marked a transformative moment in American history, expanding the electorate and recognizing women as full citizens with equal political rights. It opened the doors for women’s increased participation in politics, paving the way for greater gender equality and opportunities for women in various realms of society.

Since then, women in the United States have played an active role in politics, participating in elections, running for office, and holding important positions at the local, state, and federal levels. While challenges and disparities remain, progress has been made towards increasing women’s representation and influence in American politics.

The women’s right to vote in the United States represents a landmark achievement in the ongoing struggle for gender equality and democratic principles. It serves as a testament to the power of grassroots activism, persistence, and the tireless efforts of suffragettes who fought for equal rights and paved the way for future generations of women to engage in the democratic process.

How Women Vote: Separating Myth From Reality

Oct 6, 2020 – Suffragists said women voting would transform politics. Here’s how women have wielded the ballot in the past century, according to a political scientist.
> smithsonianmag.com/history/how-have-women-voted-suffrage

Suffragists, 1917

Women’s suffragists parade in New York City in 1917, carrying placards with signatures of more than a million women.
The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

The 19th Amendment

The 19th Amendment guarantees American women the right to vote. Achieving this milestone required a lengthy and difficult struggle; victory took decades of agitation. Beginning in the mid-19th century, woman suffrage supporters lectured, wrote, marched, lobbied, and practiced civil disobedience to achieve what many Americans considered radical change.

Between 1878, when the amendment was first introduced in Congress, and 1920, when it was ratified, champions of voting rights for women worked tirelessly, but their strategies varied. Some tried to pass suffrage acts in each state—nine western states adopted woman suffrage legislation by 1912. Others challenged male-only voting laws in the courts. More public tactics included parades, silent vigils, and hunger strikes. Supporters were heckled, jailed, and sometimes physically abused.
› archives.gov/exhibits/featured-documents/amendment-19

The Library of Congress

19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

The 19th Amendment to the Constitution granted women the right to vote and was ratified by the states on August 18, 1920. A women’s suffrage amendment was first introduced in Congress in 1878. Forty-one years late, on June 4, 1919, Congress approved the women’s suffrage amendment and sent it to the states for ratification. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby certified the ratification on August 26, 1920.
› loc.gov/19thamendment.html

Women’s March

January 21, 2017
Women’s March on Washington

We did it! On January 21, over 5 Million of us worldwide and over 1 Million in Washington, D.C., came to march, speak and make our voices heard. But it doesn’t end here – now is not the time to hang up our marching shoes – it’s time to get our friends, family and community together and make history.
› womensmarch.com
› Women of America: we’re going on strike. Join us so Trump will see our power

Women's March on Washington

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)

Families, fertility and feminism: landmarks in women’s rights

by Liz Ford
Women have fought long and hard to secure access to family planning and abortion, and reduce maternal mortality. A modern timeline of that struggle tells a story full of highs and lows.
› theguardian.com/global-development/2017/jul/27/families-fertility-feminism-landmarks-in-womens-rights-timeline

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