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Womens Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, NY
This was the first women's rights convention, it was held to fight for women's right to vote. This event lasted from July 19-20 in 1848. The two women that helped organize this convention were Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. Elizabeth gave the opening speech by saying "to declare our right to be free as man is free." (History.com editors, 2017) I believe that this statement set the mood for the rest of the meeting and influenced people to continue fighting for their rights. -
Civil Rights Act of 1866
In April 1866, the Civil Rights Act became the United States' first civil rights law. This law was to make all people born in the United States a citizen no matter what race they were. The process of this law being ratified was difficult because the president at the time vetoed the legislation, but the veto was overturned by the 39th U.S. congress. The outcome of this law was to be able to sue and be sued, give plausible evidence in court, and lease, sell and hold personal property. -
The NWSA Was Formed
In May of 1869, the 15th Amendment gave African American men the right to vote. Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton refused to endorse the 15th Amendment because it did not give women the right to vote. So Susan and Elizabeth formed the National Women Suffrage Association. This was an association to work for women's suffrage at a federal level. The NWSA worked towards securing the vote for women, in 1872 it supported Victoria Woodhull, which was the first woman candidate for president. -
Wyoming Passes A Women's Suffrage Law
The 14th Amendment was ratified and the 15th Amendment was proposed. Which both revolve around African American men being able to vote but not women. Lucy Stone wanted to have an Amendment added to the constitution that gives women the right to vote, so she went to the states. After some time the legislator of Wyoming became the first state to grant women the right to vote. -
Susan B. Antony Was Arrested
In 1972 Susan B. Antony cast a ballot in her hometown of Rochester, New York. There was a two-day trial in June 1873 she was convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of $100. Antony said the trial was "the greatest judicial outrage history has ever recorded." The hearing on November 18th was to determine whether or not she broke the law. The three men that accepted her ballot came forward and declared that she did in fact vote against the law. -
Proposal of The 19th Amendment
Wells and Alice Paul worked toward passing the 19th amendment. They proposed to congress that American citizens could no longer be denied the right to vote because of their sex. The 19th Amendment got rejected in 1887 and did not pass through to the house until 1919, then 3/4 of the states had to agree on this amendment. 42 years later in 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified and women got the right to vote. -
Woodrow Wilson Supports The Suffrage Movement
In January of 1918, the 19th Amendment fails to win a 2/3 vote in the Senate. President Wilson then changes his stance on the matter of women's rights. He stands with the suffrage movement by giving a speech to Congress in September. In that speech, he states "This war could not have been fought without the service of women." This changed many people's opinions on giving women the right to vote. His change in opinion influenced the people and helped the 19th Amendment get passed. -
The 19th Amendment Takes Effect
In May of 1919, the House of Representatives passed the 19th amendment. Then the senate agreed to pass and move it up to 3/4 of the states. Tennesee was the last state to ratify the Amendment on August 18, 1920. Bainbridge Colby was the one to certify the 19th Amendment, this was on August 26, 1920. Three months later on November 7th, 8 million women in the U.S. voted for the first time in history. -
After the 19th Amendment
Due to the 19th Amendment being added to the constitution people were now more open to giving all people in the United States rights. Four years after the 19th Amendment the Snyder Act was passed, which made Native Americans U.S. citizens for the first time. But Native Americans still could not vote up until 1962. Then in 1965, the Voting Rights Act was signed into law, which gave all people of the United States the right to vote. This law also protects against Poll Taxes. -
Mississippi Finally Ratify's The 19th Amendment
Mississippi was the only state to hold two ratifications for the 19th Amendment. In the second vote on March 31, the House rejected the passing of the 19th Amendment, 90 to 23. During the ratification process of the 19th Amendment, the Senate decided to reject the Amendment. In March Governor H. H. Casteel voted toward the Amendment and broke the Senate tie, finally passing the 19th Amendment.