Women’s Civil Rights in North Carolina

  • Edenton Tea Party

    51 women gather in Edenton to announce their boycott of East Indian Tea as long as it is taxed by the British. This is one of the first political activities arranged by women in the US.
  • First Co-Educational College in the US

    Oberlin College becomes the first co-educational college in the US. In 1841, the college awards the first academic degrees to three women.
  • NC Legislature Passes New Constitution

    The North Carolina legislature passes a new constitution to grant women the right to own property and businesses, to work for their own wages, to sue in courts, to make wills, and to make contracts without their husbands' consent.
  • First Women's Suffrage Law in the US

    The first women's suffrage law in the US passes in Wyoming.
  • First Licensed Female Lawyer in the South

    Tabitha Ann Holton passes the North Carolina state bar to become the first licensed female lawyer in the South.
  • Largest Suffrage Parade

    The largest suffrage parade to date, including perhaps 500 men, marches down Fifth Avenue in New York City.
  • Women's Suffrage

    The U.S. House of Representatives passes the Women’s Suffrage Amendment, 304 to 89; the Senate passes it with just two votes to spare, 56 to 25.
  • First Woman to Serve on the NC Supreme Court

    Judge Susie Sharp becomes first woman to serve on the North Carolina Supreme Court.
  • NC's First Female Governor

    Beverly Perdue is elected North Carolina's first female governor.
  • First African American Woman to become Attorney General

    Greensboro born Loretta Lynch becomes the first African American woman to become Attorney General of the United States.