how women won the right to vote

In the 1840's, women who had gained experience from the abolition movement became leaders of the rights for women movement. The United States Constitution did not give women any rights. In 1848, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and several other women called a women's rights meeting after they were barred from attending the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London. The meeting was held on July 19 and 20 at Seneca Falls, New York. During the two-day meeting, members rewrote the

Declaration of Independence and titled it the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolution. Attendees called for women to revolt against the tyranny inflicted upon them by men. It was the beginning. Women's conventions continued every year until the beginning of the Civil War. The conventions were attended by women who paved the way for future suffragists including Sojourner Truth, Antoinette Brown, Lucy Stone, Lucretia Mott, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton . After the end of the Civil War, women renewed their focus to obtain equal rights including the right to vote. Elizabeth Stanton and Susan B. Anthony formed the American Equal Rights Association which combined both the

the passage of the 19th Amendment

abolition and suffrage movements. Its goal was to give all adults the right to vote regardless of race or sex. During the years after the thirteenth and fourteenth amendments were ratified, the women's movement increased. Anthony and Stanton formed the National Women Suffrage Association. Other women who felt more strongly about rights for African Americans were concerned the women's suffrage movement might lesson the abolition movement. Lucy Stone, Isabella Beecher Hooker, and Julia Ward Howe formed the American Woman's Suffrage Association . By 1869 the women's movement had split. Through the 1870's and 80's women continued their work towards equality. A Woman Suffrage Amendment was proposed in Congress in 1878. The first vote on woman suffrage, however, did not take place until 1887 in the United States Senate. It was defeated. In the meantime, several states joined the union. The states of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Washington State included woman suffrage in their constitutions. By 1913 several of the younger leaders of the women's movement felt a more radical approach was needed. Alice Paul, who had participated in the militant Women's Social and Political Union in England, joined forces with Lucy Burns, Olympia Brown, Helen Keller, Maria Montessorie and others to form the Congressional Union for Women Suffrage . On March 3, 1913, spearheaded by Alice Paul and the National American Woman Suffrage Association, an enormous suffragette parade was held in Washington DC. The parade was held one day before the inauguration of President Wilson . The town was packed with people who had come for the President's inauguration. Many, however, did not support the suffragettes. Parades continued around the

By mADALIN jACKSON bICKEL

country including several in New York City. As the women lobbied and demonstrated in Washington DC, they were arrested and imprisoned at the Women's prison in Occoquan, Virginia. They were treated horribly and went on hunger strikes. President Wilson did not initially support the amendment but eventually realized the significant role women were playing in the war effort and asked Congress to support the amendment. The women, led by Alice Paul, worked tirelessly lobbying for the amendment and to elect members to Congress who would support the amendment. Finally, following the 1918 elections, The 66th Congress convened with Republicans in control of both the House and the Senate. The House quickly passed the amendment in February 1919. Finally, in May of 1919 the Senate passed the amendment. It took over a year for the needed 36 states to ratify the amendment. By August 1920, 35 states had ratified the

amendment. One more was needed. The Tennessee legislature met. Those for the amendment wore yellow roses. Those opposed wore red roses. As the vote was being taken, a young legislator wearing a red rose, received a telegram from his mother telling him to be a good boy and vote for the amendment. When his named was called, he voted aye. The amendment was ratified by one vote. On August 26, 1920 the United States Secretary of State ratified the 19th Amendment and it became the law of the land. In November 1920 women voted in a presidential election for the first time. now had the right to vote.

Every citizen over the age of twenty-one Madalin Bickel is a retired teacher, local poet, and author of cozy mysteries.

Madalin”s Books “The Caroline Caper” and “Hunt for Murder” available at amazon.com

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