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On this day in 1920 the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution guaranteed the rights of women to vote in the United States.
Let's take a closer look at the history of women voting in the United States.
Let's take a closer look at the history of women voting in the United States.
When adopted in 1789, the United States Constitution gave little guidance as to who was granted the right to vote.
The task of deciding who had the right to vote was left up to the various States who were in the process of adopting State Constitutions.
The task of deciding who had the right to vote was left up to the various States who were in the process of adopting State Constitutions.
Though many women had voted in the previous colonies and territories, as States adopted their constitutions, with the acceptation of New Jersey (cc: @NJGov) all of the States' Constitutions prohibited women from voting.
New Jersey later prohibited women from voting in 1807.
New Jersey later prohibited women from voting in 1807.
It is important to note at this point that all black people and many other non white people in the United States were universally denied rights of citizenship, including the right to vote.
This of course included black women.
This of course included black women.
Women fought for their rights continuously during the development of the United States but the first organised Women's rights movement formed in the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention.
This movement largely excluded black women and other non white women.
This movement largely excluded black women and other non white women.
Having taken a back seat to the Civil War, the women's rights movement picked up during the period of reconstruction.
The movement now based their argument on the new concept of Equal Protection found in the newly passed Fourteenth Amendment.
The movement now based their argument on the new concept of Equal Protection found in the newly passed Fourteenth Amendment.
Myra Bradwell sued the State of Illinois for the right to be granted a license to practice law based on a 14th Amdmt argument.
The Supreme Court ruled that denying her the right to practice law was not unconstitutional.
Bradwell v State of Illinois 83 US (16 Wall) 130 (1873)
The Supreme Court ruled that denying her the right to practice law was not unconstitutional.
Bradwell v State of Illinois 83 US (16 Wall) 130 (1873)
The Court later rejected another argument based on the Privileges and Immunities clause of the 14th Amendment that women have the right to vote under that clause.
Minor v Happersett, 88 US (21 Wall) 162 (1875).
Minor v Happersett, 88 US (21 Wall) 162 (1875).
Meanwhile a largely separate group of black women were fighting for their right to vote as part of a movement to uplift both women and black Americans.
Notable black suffragette, Nannie Helen Burroughs contributed to an issue of Crisis published by W.E.B. Dubois in 1915.
Notable black suffragette, Nannie Helen Burroughs contributed to an issue of Crisis published by W.E.B. Dubois in 1915.
When asked what a woman could do with the the vote, Burroughs famously responded "What can she do without it?".
As far back as 1900 it has become apparent that a constitutional amendment was necessary to grant women the right to vote.
As far back as 1900 it has become apparent that a constitutional amendment was necessary to grant women the right to vote.
By 1914 women had won the right to vote in eight states. With the start of WWI women began to advocate for women's voting rights on the basis that women could add an important perspective to democracy at at time when war was contemplated.
Many women joined the wartime workforce.
Many women joined the wartime workforce.
As women joined the labor force they became more visible participants in society and began to leverage that visibility to advocate for women's suffrage.
President Woodrow Wilson, advocated for women's suffrage in congress.
President Woodrow Wilson, advocated for women's suffrage in congress.
Fighting against opposition from congressmen largely from southern states, Willson called a special session on May 19, 1919 which eventually led to the passage of the 19th Amendment in the House two days later.
On June 4th 1919, the 19th Amendment was brought up for a vote in the Senate and passed easily once Southern Democrats abandoned a filibuster designed to stop its passage.
The 19th Amendment was quickly ratified by 35 of the requisite 36 States.
On August 18, 1920 it passed in Tennessee by a narrow margin making that State the 36th and final State necessary for ratification.
Women voters now derive power from constituting 51% of the electorate.
On August 18, 1920 it passed in Tennessee by a narrow margin making that State the 36th and final State necessary for ratification.
Women voters now derive power from constituting 51% of the electorate.
Following the passage of the 19th Amendment, all women nominally won the right to vote but in many southern States, black women still faced the effects of the system known as Jim Crowe that denied black Americans full participation in civic society including the right to vote.
It wasn't until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that barriers to the rights of black women in the southern states began to lift.
Today black women often form a powerful voting block that can sway public policy.
Today black women often form a powerful voting block that can sway public policy.
