This Week In American History: On August 18, 1920 the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, giving women the right to vote.
The Seneca Falls Convention
Founded in the mid 19th century, America’s suffrage movement’s founders were women who had honed their skills through work in the abolitionist and temperance movements. In July 1848, 200 women suffragists met in Seneca Falls, New York at the Seneca Falls Convention. Suffragists Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott organized the convention. As well as approving measures to assert women’s rights to education and employment opportunities, the convention also approved a measure to secure the women of America the right to vote.
The Beginning of the Woman’s Suffrage Movement In America
Initially when news began circulating that the Seneca Falls Convention had proclaimed women had a right to vote, the convention faced backlash and public ridicule. In fact, some backers of the women’s rights movement withdrew their support. Unfortunately, women voting polarized many people. Nevertheless, this marked the beginning of the woman’s suffrage movement in America.
The Suffrage Movement Brings Their Fight to the White House
Carrie Chapman Catt took the place of Susan B. Anthony as President of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) in 1900. Catt prioritized pushing a constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote. Upon the breakout of World War I, the NAWSA encouraged women to prove their worth to the war effort by volunteering. Meanwhile, the National Women’s Party, led by Lucy Burns and Alice Paul, engaged in civil disobedience. They brought their malcontent directly to President Woordrow Wilson’s feet by staging protests outside the White House.
President Wilson Moves To Have the 19th Amendment Ratified Finally, facing an ever-growing amount of pressure from multiple sides, President Wilson called a special session of Congress in May of 1919. He personally appealed for women’s suffrage. Congress approved it and sent the amendment to the states for ratification.
The 19th Amendment: Ratified & Adopted Into the Constitution
Ten months later – in March of 1920 – one more state needed to vote to ratify the 19th Amendment in order for it to become law. It took until August 18, 1920, but the Tennessee House of Representatives finally voted to ratify the 19th Amendment. August 26, 1920 saw the amendment formally adopted into the Constitution by proclamation of Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby.
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Info Source: History.com
Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons
