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Seneca Falls Convention
The first women’s rights convention was held in 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York. This was the beginning of the women’s rights movement. At the convention, they created the Declaration of Sentiments. This document had different demands. For instance, they wanted to be treated equally under the law and have voting rights. -
Civil War
The suffrage movement started slowing down due to the start of the Civil War. Women took a break and started focusing more on the war effort. -
The NWSA was formed
The National Woman Suffrage Association was formed. This group pushed for universal suffrage. -
The 15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment, which gave African American men the right to vote, was ratified. Woman-suffrage activists used this to push for the right to vote. Some refused the 15th Amendment and sided with the southerner who were also against it. -
Testing the Court
After the 14th amendment, suffragists started testing the court to see if the privileges granted to U.S. citizens included giving women the right to vote. One example of someone doing this would be Susan B. Anthony because she was prosecuted for voting illegally in 1872. The case, Minor vs Happersett, even made it to the Supreme Court, but there they rejected the suffragist argument that voting was a privilege. -
Women's suffrage amendment gets introduced to the senate
In January of 1878, a senator from California named Aaron A. Sargent introduced an amendment to give women the right to vote. It was rejected and in 1914 it was rejected again when it was brought up. -
Formation of the NAWSA
The American Woman Suffrage Association and the National Woman Suffrage Association merged to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association. This group wanted to get state suffrage amendments ratified so Congress would make the amendment to give them the right to vote. This organization also pushed women to take part in the war effort for World War I. They believed that, by doing this, they would be able to show how women can improve society. -
Creation of the National Women's Party
The NWP was more aggressive with its push for women’s suffrage. They made the efforts of the suffragist by picketing the White House. They were against President Wilson’s decision to go to war to help democracy because women in America weren’t even able to vote. Their aggressive efforts lead them to be arrested for seven months. They began a hunger strike to show the world how harshly they were being treated. Their efforts brought their cause to the public and gained them more support. -
Wilson Addresses the Senate
The National American Woman Suffrage Association and the National Women’s Party had a major impact on the 19th Amendment being passed by Congress. The part women played in the war and the publicity gained by picketing the White House led President Wilson to be in favor of women’s suffrage. In September of 1918, Wilson addressed the Senate and proposed giving Women the right to vote. -
Passed by Congress
On June 4, 1919, Congress passed the 19th Amendment. The amendment was then sent to the states so it could be ratified. -
19th Amendment was Ratified
On August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified. Less than three months after, women got to practice their right to vote by voting in the 34th presidential election. According to history, more than 8 million women in the US voted.
