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Seneca Falls Convention
This was the First Women's Rights Convention. It was organized by Elizabeth Cody Stanton and Lucretia Mott, and took place in Seneca Falls, NY. In this Convention, 68 women and 32 men signed the Declaration of Sentiments. This document was a claim for equality between women and men in different areas such as legal rights, education, and suffrage. -
Introduction of a Federal Women's Suffrage Amendment
In 1868, there was the introduction of one women's suffrage Amendment by Kansas Senator Samuel Pomeroy. The Senate didn't approve this bill and just left it to be forgotten. It stated: “The basis of suffrage in the United States shall be that of citizenship, and all native or naturalized citizens shall enjoy the same rights and privileges of the elective franchise.” -
Wyoming - First State to Grant Women the Right to Vote
In 1869, Wyoming became the first state to grant women the right to vote. This was very important to the ratification of the 19th Amendment because it served as an example for other states and territories to follow, like Colorado(1893), Utah(1896), and Idaho(1896). It also was a concrete proof that the state could thrive while women voted, supporting the suffragist's arguments. -
National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA)
The National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) was founded by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. They opposed the 15th Amendment because it excluded women's right to vote and they fought for an Amendment for women's suffrage. -
American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA)
The American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA) was founded by Lucy Stone, Henry Blackwell, and Julia Ward Howe. Opposite to NWSA, they supported the 15th Amendment and they believed that it would be easier to win voting rights state-by-state. -
Draft of 19th Amendment
Senator Aaron Sargent of California introduced a resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to grant women the right to vote. It states: "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.” -
Formation of NAWSA
The National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) was formed by the union of NWSA and AWSA. It was an organization that fought for political equality for women and led the fight for ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. -
Jeannette Rankin - first woman to serve in the U.S. Congress
In 1916, Jeannette Rankin became the first woman to serve in the U.S. Congress. This was very significant to the ratification of the 19th Amendment, four years later, because it encouraged more women to engage political activities and it gave more credibility to the women's suffrage movement. Her election as a Representative of Montana was an important symbol of progress in the fight for equality of women's rights. -
Foundation of the National Woman’s Party (NWP)
The National Woman’s Party (NWP) was an organization very important for the American women's suffrage movement. It was founded in 1916 by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, and adopted more direct tactics like picketing, protests, and hunger strikes. -
Ratification of the 19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment was introduced in Congress in 1878, but it had already been proposed for decades. In 1918, the House of Representatives Passes the 19th Amendment, pushing it closer to ratification. The Senate approved it in 1919, sending the amendment to the states for ratification.
When Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify this Amendment in 1920, it finally obtained the agreement of ¾ of the States, establishing the women’s right to vote as the 19th Amendment.