Current Article

Vote for Equality – Women Fight for Their Political Voice

By webreporter on Mar 17, 2008 in BRAIN FOOD

Just 100 years ago, didn’t have a voice in U.S. elections. The suffragist movement changed that, eventually allowing them to hold the highest offices in the land.

1860s – Suffragists Organize: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony form the National Suffrage Association with the goal to amend the U.S. and state constitutions so women can vote. Meanwhile, Lucy Stone, Henry Blackwell and others form the American Women Suffrage Association focusing exclusively on amendments to state constitutions. Also, the territory of Wyoming passes the first suffrage laws.
1870s – Susan B. Anthony introduces the Federal Suffrage Amendment in Congress which gives women the right to vote.
1890s – The National Woman Suffrage Association and the American Woman Suffrage Association merge to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). In 1893, Colorado is the first state to grant women the right to vote. Utah and Idaho follow in 1896,
1910s – WOMEN VOTE IN STATE ELECTIONS AND ARE ELECTED TO CONGRESS! Washington gives women the vote, followed by California (1911), Oregon, Kansas, Arizona (1912), Illinois (1913), Montana and Nevada (1914), New York (1917), Michigan, S.Dakota, Oklahoma (1918); In 1919, The Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment is passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate. To amend the Constitution. 36 states will have to ratify.
1920s – Tennessee becomes 36^th state to ratify amendment. It becomes the 19^th Amendment to the Constitution when it is signed into law by Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby.
1960s – The National Organization for Women is founded by a group of femnists including Betty Friedan. The largest womens rights group in the United States, seeks to end sexual discrimination, especially in the workplace. In 1965, Patsy Mink (D-Hawaii) becomes the first Asian-American elected to Congress and then in 19668, Shirley Cisholm (D-NY) is the first black woman in Congress.
1970s – Women Equality Day. On the 50th anniversary of women’s suffrage, 50,000 people march in New York City. In 1972, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification.
1980s – Sandra Day O’Connor becomes the first U.S. Supreme Court justice in 1981. In 1982 the ERA dies when it fails to be ratified by a minimum of 38 states. Illeana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) becomes the first Hispanic woman and first Cuban-American to serve Congress.
1990s–2000s – Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) becomes the first Puerto Rican woman elected to Congress. In 1997, Madeline Albright becomes first woman named Secretary of State. In 2006, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) becomes the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives. And of course, in 2008, Hillary Clinton (D-NY) runs for President of the United States.