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World Anti-Slavery Convention
The World Anti-Slavery Convention is held in London. Abolitionists Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton attend, but they are barred from participating in the meeting. This snub leads them to decide to hold a women's rights convention when they return to America. -
Women's Rights Convention At Seneca Falls
Three hundred people attend the first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York. Stanton authors the Declaration of Sentiments, which sets the agenda for decades of women's activism. -
Eleventh National Women's Rights Convention
The Eleventh National Women's Rights Convention, the first since the beginning of the Civil War, is held in New York City. Lucretia Mott presides over a merger between suffragists and the American Anti-Slavery Association: the new group is called the American Equal Rights Association. -
Passing of the 14th Amendment
The 14th amendment passes granted former slaves the right to vote. The amendment specifies the word “male” officially excluding women’s suffrage. Anthony and Stanton are outraged. Arguments lead to a split in the movement. Stanton and Anthony create The National Women's Suffrage Association, focusing on promoting equal rights for women, while others formed the American Women Suffrage Assocation open to both genders. -
Ratification of the 15th Amendment
The Fifteenth Amendment is ratified. Although its gender-neutral language appears to grant women the vote, women who go to the polls to test the amendment are turned away -
Women in Washington are granted voting rights
Women in the Washington territory are granted full voting rights. Prominent suffragists travel to Liverpool, where they form the International Council of Women. At this meeting, the leaders of the National and American associations work together, laying the foundation for a reconciliation between these two groups. -
National American Women's Suffrage Association
The National and American associations merge to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association. Stanton becomes the new organization's first president. -
Anthony Retires; Catt Elected as President
Anthony retires as the president of the National American and, to the surprise of many, recommends Carrie Chapman Catt as her successor; Catt is elected. -
President Wilson Supports the 19th Amendment
President Wilson issues a statement supporting a federal amendment to grant woman's suffrage. President Wilson addresses the Senate in support of the Nineteenth Amendment, but it fails to win the required 2/3 majority of Senate votes. -
Ratification of the 19th Amendment
Despite the political subversion of anti-suffragists, particularly in Tennessee, three quarters of state legislatures ratify the Nineteenth Amendment on 26 August. American women win full voting rights.
