The above was the headline in the New York Times on August 25, 1920 announcing the cerfication of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. The privilege of voting has always been important to me. I
remember the distress of not being able to vote in the 1980 Presidential
election along with the rest of my dorm because I didn't turn 18 until nine
days later. Following in my Grandma Armstrong's footsteps, I have worked as a
poll worker on Election Day for over 20 years. As a woman of the 21st century,
it is hard to believe that less than 100 years ago, women in the United States
did not have the right to vote. By 1920 when the country finally granted women
the right to vote my Nana Burket had survived growing up with nine brothers, lived
through a world war, married and given birth to her first child. Unfortunately
Nana died in 1981 long before I had grown out of the “it's all about me” teen
stage. I missed out what would have been a profound discussion of what it was
like to have gained the fundamental right of a citizen... to participate in
government by our vote.
Women’s Suffrage Timeline
1787: The Constitutional Convention places voting rules in
the hands of the states. Only New Jersey granted women the right to vote
1861-1865: The American Civil War. The suffrage movement was
largely on hold during the conflict
1869: The 1st US territory, Wyoming grants unrestricted
suffrage to women
1870: The 15th amendment to the US Constitution is
adopted granting voting rights to former male African-American slaves
1872: Susan B Anthony registers and votes in Rochester, New
York, stating that the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution gives
her the right to vote
1875: Women begin winning the right to vote in school
election starting with Minnesota and Michigan
1878: A federal amendment to the Constitution granting women
the right to vote is introduced by Senator A.A. Sargeant of California
1882: The US House and Senate appoint committees on
women's suffrage
1884: The House of Representatives debates women suffrage
1886: The suffrage amendment is defeated in the Senate
1887: The Supreme Court strikes down the law that gave women
the right to vote in the Washington territory
1887: Women win the right to vote in Kansas municipal
elections
1893: Colorado votes for women suffrage as western states and
territories continue to lead the charge on women’s right to vote
1912: Theodore Roosevelt's Progressive Party includes women
suffrage as a part of its platform
1913: The Senate votes on a women suffrage amendment, but again
it does not pass
1916: Woodrow Wilson and the Democratic Party Platform pledge to
endorse women suffrage
1916: The first woman is elected to the US Congress. Montana
sends Jeannette Rankin to the House of Representatives
November 14th, 1917: The "Night of Terror” suffragist
prisoners are beaten and abused
1917: The New York becomes the 1st Eastern state to
grant women full suffrage
1918: The House of Representatives passes the women’s right
to vote
1918 Women suffrage is once again struck down in the Senate
1918: President Wilson declares his support for women
suffrage
June 4, 1919: The Senate finally passes the women suffrage
August 18, 1920 Tennessee ratifies the suffrage amendment
August 26, 1920: The 19th Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution, stating, "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. Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation," becomes law.
The suffrage fight took over 100 years to result in women gaining
the right to go into the voting booth. The least we can do is get out and vote
every first Tuesday of November.
