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Women's March on Versailles
This march was one of the "earliest and most significant" events of the French Revolution. The demonstration became a part of the revolutionaries' acts seeking liberal reform and a constitutional monarchy for France. The march had begun as a response to the hunger and desperation of market women but transformed into a search for the reassurance that bread would again become plentiful and affordable.
Photo Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_March_on_Versailles -
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, by British feminist Mary Wollstonecraft
This book was one of the earliest works of feminist philosophy; in it, Wollstonecraft argues for women to have the same fundamental rights as men, including a rational education. She argued that society would degenerate without educated women, because mothers are the primary educators of children. Her writing "paved the way for feminist arguments" and continues to inspire women today.
Photo Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Vindication_of_the_Rights_of_Woman -
The Society of Revolutionary and Republican Women Established as a Feminist Society, With Motivation to Also Defend the French Revolution
Though it only survived for five months, this group gained momentum in the national political scene for women and sexual equality. The women wore symbols for their alliance with the ongoing revolution, but were primarily seeking educational reform and affordable market prices so women could feed their families. The group turned the tide in what had previously been a mass of men's organizations.
Photo Source: http://faculty.history.wisc.edu/roberts/History_392_2004/Slidesfromlectures3-4.htm -
First Coeducational College Founded
Oberlin was established in September of 1833 and in December, 15 women and 29 men began classes as the first students. The school's motto was "Learning and Labor," as tuition was free and the students were expected to contribute by helping to sustain the community. The school thrived on progressive causes and social justice and was a center for abolitionist activity.
Photo Source: www.womanchangingtheworld.com/oberlin-college---first-institution-of-higher-learning-for-women.html -
First Women's Rights Convention Held in Seneca Falls, New York
Comprised of six sessions, this was the first in a series of annual National Women's Rights Conventions. One outcome was the Declaration of Sentiments, based off of the Declaration of Independence and calling attention to female property rights and women's suffrage. The declaration spread news of the women's rights movement around the country.
Photo Source: www.returnofkings.com/16742/understanding-the-seneca-falls-convention -
First National Women's Rights Takes Place in Worcester, Massachusetts, Attracting More Than 1,000 Participants
After Seneca Falls, inspired women came together for the first time on a national level. Of the approximate 1,000 women who attended the two-day event, 268 "declared themselves," meaning they could vote. Worcester served as an ideal location, as it was a "seething centre" of all the reforms. Following this convention, the national conventions continued annually (except for 1857) through 1860.
Photo Source: http://www.preservationworcester.org/pages/pageshistor/tourhistoric.html -
The National Women's Rights Convention Transforms Into New Association Known As American Equal Rights Association, With Lucretia Mott as President
According to the AERA constitution, its purpose was "to secure Equal Rights to all American citizens, especially the right of suffrage, irrespective of race, color or sex." The group campaigned for the rights of both women and blacks, advocating suffrage for both.
Photo Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Equal_Rights_Association -
The Ladies National Association for the Repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts established by Elizabeth Wolstenholme and Josephine Butler
This association was formed in response to the Contagious Diseases Act (CD) of 1864, which was intended to "segregate and control prostitution," and primarily to protect soldiers and sailors from contracting sexually transmitted diseases. It allowed police to arrest suspected prostitutes and subject them to a disease screening. If infected, she was confined in a "lock hospital." This group drew moralists and feminists from across the country.
Photo Source: https://archive.org/details/b21457657 -
National Woman Suffrage Association Founded in New York City; Their Motto, "Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less!"
Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton formed NWSA, which in contrast to the American Woman Suffrage Association, condemned the 14th and 15th amendments, unless changed to include women. They supported a federal constitutional amendment for women's suffrage and became involved in other women's issues, including discrimination, pay inequality, and reform of marriage and divorce laws.
Photo Source: http://womenshistory.about.com/od/suffrage1865/a/National-Woman-Suffrage-Association.htm -
Wyoming Grants Women the Right to Vote, the First U.S. "Territory" to Do So, Quickly Followed By Territories of Utah and Washington
The act was followed by territories Utah and Washington, which preserved women's suffrage when they became states. The next year, women began serving on juries in the territory. By 1914, there was a stark contrast between the East and West. All states west of the Rockies had women's suffrage but Kansas was the only state east of the Rockies that did. The cause is unknown, while some say the Wild West was "no place for a woman."
Photo Source: http://oasis.lib.harvard.edu/oasis/deliver/~sch00846 -
Susan B. Anthony Arrested and Charged With Illegally Voting in Her Hometown of Rochester, New York
Anthony was arrested by a U.S. Deputy Marshal after an attempt to vote in the 1872 presidential election. Her case became a national controversy, and she was elevated to the status of martyr in the eyes of some. She was found guilty, but refused to pay a cent of the fine the Justice sentenced her to. Her case was eventually dismissed.
Photo Source: womenwopinions.typepad.com/women_with_opinions/19th-amendment/ -
The National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) Created by the Merger of the National Woman's Suffrage Association (NWSA) and the American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA)
Even after the ratification of the 15th amendment in 1870, differences between the two associations, NWSA and AWSA, remained. The NWSA worked on a much wider variety of range of issues than the AWSA, including divorce reform and equal pay for women. The merging of the two associations was meant to push for the ratification of enough state suffrage amendments to force Congress to approve a federal amendment.
Photo Source: http://www.brynmawr.edu/library/exhibits/suffrage/nawsa.html -
Colorado is the First U.S. "State" to Adopt an Amendment Granting Women the Right to Vote
A referendum on women's suffrage was held in Colorado to ratify a proposed constitutional amendment (HB 118) allowing women the right to vote. 55% of the electorate turned out to vote, with 35,798 voting in favor and 29,551 voting against. The next year, three Colorado women became the first women to be elected to any legislature in U.S. history when elected to the Colorado House of Representatives.
Photo Source: http://womhist.alexanderstreet.com/colosuff/intro.htm -
The Woman's Bible, a Two-Part Non-Fiction Book By Elizabeth Cady Stanton and a Committee of 26 Women, Is Published
The book challenged the "traditional position of religious orthodoxy" that woman should be subservient to man. Stanton sought to promote a "liberating theology" that stressed self-development. The book saw much antagonism soon after its release, even opposition of women's rights activists who worried it would harm the movement for women's suffrage. Because of the backlash, the book ended Stanton's influence in the suffrage movement.
Photo Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Woman%27s_Bible -
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Fifteen U.S. States Follow Colorado's Adoption of an Amendment Granting Women the Right to Vote
Utah and Idaho followed suit in 1896, Washington State in 1910, California in 1911, Oregon, Kansas, and Arizona in 1912, Alaska and Illinois in 1913, Montana and Nevada in 1914, New York in 1917; Michigan, South Dakota, and Oklahoma in 1918. In 1916 the conventions of both Democratic and Republican parties endorsed women's suffrage, but only on a "state-by-state" basis. -
National Association of Colored Women's Clubs as a Merger Between National Federation of African-American Women and National League of Colored Women in Washington, D.C., with the Motto, "Lifting as we climb"
The NACWC is an organization formed at the First Annual Convention of the National Federation of Afro-American Women in Washington, D.C., USA, aiming to promote the educational opportunities and standards of life for women, children, and African-American families.
Photo Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Association_of_Colored_Women%27s_Clubs -
The Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) Formed as the Leading Organization for Women's Suffrage in the United Kingdom
WSPU was best known for hunger strikes (leading to forced feeding), breaking windows in "prominent" buildings, and for nighttime arson of empty buildings, including homes and churches. They lasted from 1903 to 1917 and refused to support any legislation which did not include enfranchisement for women. It had some positive lasting impacts including the attraction of mass publicity and organization of the movement.
Photo Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_Social_and_Political_Union -
National Women's Party (NWP) Formed as Outgrowth of the Congressional Union
Formed by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, the organization prioritized the passage of an amendment ensuring women's suffrage, ignoring all other women's rights concerns. The group used ridicule in the hopes of shaming the Democratic Party and Pres. Woodrow Wilson into supporting women's suffrage. After ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, the NWP turned its attention to passage of an Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution.
Photo Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Woman%27s_Party -
Margaret Sanger Opens First Birth Control Clinic in the U.S. in Brooklyn, New York
The New York clinic offered counseling, birth control information and supplies to dozens of women, but police closed down the clinic nine days after it opened. Sanger, Byrne and their staff were arrested, charged with “maintaining a public nuisance." Sanger and Byrne were convicted and spent 30 days in prison. Their arrest brought the birth control controversy to the public and gave Sanger a new-found group of supporters.
Photo Source: https://www.thinglink.com/scene/510106528284409856 -
Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919
The basic intentions of the removal act were to prevent disqualification by sex or marriage from the "exercise of any public function... or carrying on any civil profession or vocation." Women were now able to serve as magistrates or jurors. The act was broad, naming three areas: "Civil Service, the courts, and the Universities," leaving the rest to be addressed within fine print. Still, this act leveled the interests of men and women.
Photo Source: http://www.slideshare.net/kpayne15/tiki-toki-1 -
League of Women Voters (LWV) Founded By Carrie Chapman Catt in Washington, D.C.
This organization began as a "mighty political experiment" aimed at educating and helping newly enfranchised women to exercise their responsibilities as voters. LWV is officially "nonpartisan," though it supports many progressive public policy positions. It operates at the local, state and national level. Today the group aims to increase voter participation by helping register voters.
Photo Source: http://library.lwv.org/content/members-league-women-voters-colorado-gather-steps-statehouse-denver -
Women's Bureau in the U.S. Department of Labor Established
This Bureau was created by law in 1920 to aid in developing standards and policies that were directly influential to the welfare of wage-earning women. In the 1920's and 30's, 21% of America's employed were women, who were struggling long hours for little wages. This organization allowed for the promotion of women's working conditions, their potential for efficiency, and their opportunities for profitable employment.
Photo Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Women%27s_Bureau -
19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Grants American Women the Right to Vote
Following the Seneca Falls Convention, demand for women's suffrage became a centerpiece of the women's rights movement. After a 70-year struggle, Stanton, Mott, Anthony, and other activists emerged victorious with the passage of the 19th amendment.
Photo Source: feminist.org/blog
