Women's Rights

First National Women's Rights Convention

Oct 23, 1850

The first National Women's Rights Convention was described as a convention to discuss the "social, civil, and religious condition and rights of women." Elizabeth Stanton expressed her ideas for rights and freedoms in the Declaration of Sentiments. This declaration was modeled after the Declaration of Independence, which she believed modeled men's rights. Abolitionist Sojourner Truth was also an attendee, and the first to discuss women's rights in regards to black women.

World Temperance Convention

1853

This event was held to coordinate future annual plans for national conventions. When she tried to speak, Antoinette Brown was booed as she tried to speak by the men that attended. This was surprising since the men that attended claimed to be liberals, yet against women's rights. vid

American Equal Rights Association is Founded

1866

Elizabeth Stanton and Susan B. Anthony form the American Equal Rights Association. The purpose was to secure equal rights for all citizens, especially on the basis of race and sex. AERA workers also collected petitions for the removal of requirements that were made against black voters. The Kansas Campaign began to help black people and women, but failed because many did not support the merging of the two movements.

14th Amendment

1868

This amendment granted citizenship to all persons and provided equal protection under the law. It granted state action, due process, citizenship, and equal protection. This was the start of reconstruction, however, citizens and voters were only intended to be male.

Women Cast Votes in Separate Ballot Box

1868

In New Jersey, Portia Gage and 171 other women organized a protest at the voting polls in which they brought a ballot box of their own and cast their votes. The women that were participated were white and black. The Women's Rights movement and the abolitionist movement often intersected when it came to voting.

AERA Disbanded, NWSA Founded

1869

The American Equal Rights Association disagreed on the 14th and proposed 15th Amendment, which would include Black men but exclude women from voting. The National Women's Suffrage Association is founded to achieve a stronger push for other women's rights issues.

15th Amendment

1870

This amendment gave black men the right to vote. NWSA did not support this amendment because it did not include women. NWSA advocated for a 16th amendment that would allow for universal suffrage, and because of this, Frederick Douglass left the NWSA. vid

Women's Suffrage Amendment

1878

An amendment exactly the same as what we know today as the 19th amendment is proposed to Congress. this amendment however, did not pass until 41 years later as the 19th Amendment

Women's Suffrage Vote

1887

Congress votes on women's suffrage for the first time, and rejects it.

NAWSA Created

1890

As an alternative to NWSA and AWSA, the National American Women's Suffrage Association is formed. This movement focuses on suffrage at state level. Wyoming's state constitution grants women suffrage and the American Federation of Labor declares support for Women's Suffrage.