Women's Suffrage

By taliauribe

  • The first women's rights convention is held in Seneca Falls, New York

    After 2 days of discussion and debate, 68 women and 32 men sign a Declaration of Sentiments, which outlines grievances and sets the agenda for the women's rights movement. A set of 12 resolutions is adopted calling for equal treatment of women and men under the law and voting rights for women.

  • The territory of Wyoming passes the first women's suffrage law.

    The following year, women begin serving on juries in the territory.

  • The National Women Suffrage Association and the American Women Suffrage Association merge to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA).

    As the movement's mainstream organization, NAWSA wages state-by-state campaigns to obtain voting rights for women.

  • Colorado is the first state to adopt an amendment granting women the right to vote.

    Utah and Idaho follow suit in 1896, Washington State in 1910, California in 1911, Oregon, Kansas, and Arizona in 1912, Alaska and Illinois in 1913, Montana and Nevada in 1914, New York in 1917; Michigan, South Dakota, and Oklahoma in 1918.

  • The National Association of Colored Women is formed

    Bringing together more than 100 black women's clubs. Leaders in the black women's club movement include Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, Mary Church Terrell, and Anna Julia Cooper.

  • The National Women's Trade Union League (WTUL) is established

    to advocate for improved wages and working conditions for women.

  • Alice Paul and Lucy Burns form the Congressional Union

    To work toward the passage of a federal amendment to give women the vote. The group is later renamed the National Women's Party. Members picket the White House and practice other forms of civil disobedience.

  • Margaret Sanger opens the first U.S. birth-control clinic in Brooklyn, N.Y.

    Although the clinic is shut down 10 days later and Sanger is arrested, she eventually wins support through the courts and opens another clinic in New York City in 1923.

  • The federal woman suffrage amendment is passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate

    It is then sent to the states for ratification.

  • Women now have the right to vote!

    The 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote, is signed into law by Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby.