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Women Attempting to Vote
On November 5, 1872, 16 women dared to go to the polls in Rochester, New York. Among those women was Susan B. Anthony, an activist for women’s suffrage. After going to the polls, she wrote a letter to Elizabeth Cady Stanton, stating “Well I have been & gone & done it!—positively voted the Republican ticket”. Unfortunately, two weeks later, Anthony was arrested for voting without having the right to vote. She was brought to trial and issued fines for illegally voting. -
Women's Suffrage First Introduced to Congress
By 1878, women suffragists and suffragist organizations, such as The National Women’s Suffrage Association and the American Women’s Suffrage Association, had become noticed. They had gained enough influence and were finally able to lobby the U.S. Congress for a constitutional amendment that would allow women the right to vote. Unfortunately, the amendment failed and was not passed. However, it was reintroduced during every session of congress over the span of the next 41 years. . -
Two Organizations Merge for the Cause
In May of 1890, the National American Women’s Suffrage Association was formed. Lucy Stone worked to merge the National Women’s Suffrage Association and the American Women’s Suffrage Association together. The groups were once rival to each other because of the focus of their goals. The NWSA focused to change voting rights on a federal level, whereas the AWSA focused to change voting rights state by state. For the first time, women’s suffrage groups were united. -
Men Join the Fight
Contrary to what it is often referred to as, the women’s suffrage movement was not limited to strictly women. From the early stages of the women’s suffrage movement, men had played an active role as activists. James Mott presided over the Seneca Falls convention in 1848. The American Women’s Suffrage Association was co-founded by Lucy Stone and her husband, Henry Blackwell. In 1910, the Men’s League for Women’s Suffrage was formed. By 1912, there were 20,000 members. -
Women March for the Vote
On October 23, 1915, thousands of women marched the streets of New York City in support of women’s suffrage. At this point, women suffragists were beginning to be seen as “fire-starting militants and misguided housewives.” They marched peacefully in all white, holding signs. Suffragists took this opportunity to show the world they were more than that. Suffragists marched in hope of swaying the government to pass the referendum to allow women to vote in New York. -
Victory! Women Get to Vote!
In Washington D.C. on August 26, 1920, three out of four of the state legislatures ratified the 19th Amendment. The 19th Amendment states that “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.” After about 50 years of campaigning, protesting, hard work, winning and losing, thousands of suffragists have finally achieved their goal. Women have officially won the right to vote!
