Photo courtesy of The Library of Congress.
QUICK FACTS
The Women’s Suffrage Movement
“The women’s suffrage movement was a decades-long fight to win the right to vote for women in the United States. But on August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was finally ratified, enfranchising all American women and declaring for the first time that they, like men, deserve all the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.” [i]
The 19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution granted women the right to vote: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” [ii]
DID YOU KNOW?
The Abolition Movement
The abolition movement of the 1830s “provided women with opportunities to speak, write and organize on behalf of enslaved people—and in some cases gave them leadership roles.” This was known as an empowering start to the women’s suffrage movement. [i]
The Introduction of Bloomers
In 1851, Amelia Jenks Bloomer wrote articles and printed illustrations showcasing Turkish-style pantaloons debuted by Elizabeth Smith Miller. “Bloomers” became a popular fashion trend of the women’s rights movement, as they made it easier for women to commute around town—unlike bulky hoop skirts. Activists discarded the style “after they realized they were getting more attention for their dress than their message.” Bloomers sparked the beginning of fashion rebellion and “would eventually help women claim the freedom to wear what they wanted.” [i]
Aunt Susan
On Election Day in 1872, “Susan B. Anthony led a group of 16 women in demanding to be registered and vote in Rochester, New York. All 16 were arrested, but only Anthony would be tried for violating the 14th Amendment, which guaranteed ‘the right to vote…to any of the male inhabitants’ of the United States over 21 years of age.” She was found guilty, and sentenced to pay a $100 fine—which she refused to do. “‘Aunt Susan’ earned widespread respect and inspired younger women with her courageous example.” [i]
[i] Pruitt, S. (2016, January 12). 7 Things You Might Not Know About the Women's Suffrage Movement. Retrieved July 30, 2020, from https://www.history.com/news/7-things-you-might-not-know-about-the-womens-suffrage-movement
[ii] The 19th Amendment. (n.d.). Retrieved July 30, 2020,
from https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured-documents/amendment-19