Simone Lawson
The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, also known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment, was passed by Congress on June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920, granting women the right to vote. This amendment was the culmination of a long and arduous campaign by women's suffrage organisations and activists, dating back to the mid-19th century. The fight for female suffrage included lectures, marches, lobbying, and civil disobedience, with several generations of women dedicating their lives to achieving this milestone. While the 19th Amendment was a significant step towards gender equality, it did not immediately extend voting rights to all women, particularly women of colour, who continued to face systemic racism and discriminatory state voting laws. Another proposed amendment, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), aimed to explicitly prohibit sex discrimination and guarantee equal rights for women, but it has not been ratified and remains a subject of debate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amendment Number | 19th Amendment |
| Date of Proposal | 1848 |
| Date Approved by Congress | June 4, 1919 |
| Date Ratified | August 18, 1920 |
| Number of States Ratified | 36 |
| State Legislature that Ratified | Tennessee |
| Voting Rights | Women's right to vote |
| Number of Women Enfranchised | 26 million |
| Amendment Writer | Alice Paul, Crystal Eastman |
| Amendment Proposer | National Woman's Party |
| Amendment Supporters | Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Virginia Minor |
| Amendment Opponents | Eleanor Roosevelt |
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What You'll Learn
The 19th Amendment (1920)
The first women's suffrage amendment was introduced in Congress in 1878 but faced rejection in 1887. Despite this setback, suffrage organizations persisted, and by the 1890s, their focus shifted to pursuing a national amendment alongside state and local efforts. Notable activists during this period included Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who played pivotal roles in advocating for a constitutional amendment.
In the early 20th century, the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) encouraged its supporters to join the war effort during World War I, arguing that women, as patriots, caregivers, and mothers, deserved the right to vote. This strategy, coupled with the National Woman's Party's (NWP) pickets of the White House, garnered widespread support for women's suffrage. By 1916, most major suffrage organizations united behind the goal of a constitutional amendment.
On May 21, 1919, the House of Representatives passed the amendment, and two weeks later, on June 4, the Senate followed suit. The amendment was then submitted to the states for ratification, requiring the approval of three-fourths of the states. This milestone was achieved on August 18, 1920, when Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the amendment. The amendment was certified by Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby on August 26, 1920, forever altering the American political landscape and ensuring that women's voting rights were legally protected.
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The right to vote
The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, also known as Amendment XIX, prohibits the United States and its states from denying any citizen the right to vote based on sex. The amendment was passed by Congress on June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920, legally guaranteeing American women the right to vote.
The road to achieving this milestone was long and challenging. The women's suffrage movement began in the mid-19th century, with several generations of activists tirelessly lecturing, writing, marching, lobbying, and practising civil disobedience to bring about what many Americans considered a radical constitutional change. The first women's suffrage amendment was introduced in Congress in 1878 but was rejected in 1887. In the following decades, suffrage organisations employed various strategies, including passing suffrage acts in individual states, challenging male-only voting laws in court, and using more confrontational tactics such as picketing, silent vigils, and hunger strikes.
By 1916, most major suffrage organisations united behind the goal of a constitutional amendment. The entry of the United States into World War I also helped shift public perception in favour of women's suffrage, with organisations like the National American Woman Suffrage Association arguing that women deserved the right to vote as a reward for their patriotic wartime service. On May 21, 1919, the House of Representatives passed the amendment, followed by the Senate on June 4, 1919. The amendment was then submitted to the states for ratification, obtaining the required 36 ratifications, with Tennessee becoming the final state to ratify on August 18, 1920.
Despite the 19th Amendment's ratification, the fight for voting rights for all women continued. While white women immediately benefited, systemic racism in the South and other regions prevented millions of women of colour from gaining the right to vote. Discriminatory state voting laws and racially discriminatory policies, such as poll taxes, literacy tests, and felony disenfranchisement laws, excluded many women of colour from the democratic process until the rise of the civil rights movement in the mid-20th century.
Additionally, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was proposed as an amendment to the U.S. Constitution in the early 1970s to explicitly prohibit sex discrimination and guarantee equal rights for men and women. While it passed in Congress, it did not achieve the required number of state ratifications to become part of the Constitution.
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The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
The ERA garnered increasing support with the rise of the women's movement in the 1960s. It was reintroduced by Representative Martha Griffiths in 1971 and approved by the House of Representatives that year. In 1972, it was approved by the Senate, thus submitting the ERA to state legislatures for ratification as provided by Article Five of the Constitution. A seven-year deadline was set for ratification, later extended to 1982 by a simple majority in Congress. Despite these efforts, the ERA fell short of the necessary 38 states for ratification.
The purpose of the ERA is to guarantee equal rights for men and women in matters such as divorce, property, and employment. Proponents of the ERA argued that it would end legal distinctions between men and women in these areas. However, opponents argued that it would remove protections for women and make them eligible for the military draft. The ERA has not been ratified, but efforts to ratify it continue. In 2025, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley introduced a resolution calling for the establishment of the ERA's ratification, despite the time limit having expired.
The ERA has a long history of debate and support, with many prominent women advocating for its passage, including First Ladies Rosalynn Carter and Betty Ford, who co-chaired an event to raise money for its passage. President Carter also supported the ERA, proclaiming August 26, 1978, as Women's Equality Day and stating his belief that the ERA's ratification was crucial for guaranteeing equal rights under the Constitution. While the ERA has not yet become part of the Constitution, it continues to be a significant topic in the pursuit of gender equality in the United States.
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Women's rights organisations
The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, passed in 1920, granted women the right to vote after a long and difficult campaign. However, this did not ensure full enfranchisement, and many minority women remained unable to vote due to discriminatory state voting laws.
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a proposed amendment to explicitly prohibit sex discrimination and guarantee women equal rights with men. First introduced in 1923, it was later approved by the House of Representatives in 1971 and the Senate in 1972. Despite this, it is not currently part of the Constitution, and its ratification status is debated.
- UN Women is a UN organisation that works to uphold women's human rights and empower women and girls globally. They drive change in 109 countries, delivering programmes, policies, and standards to support four billion women and girls.
- The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) is an international organisation working towards gender equality and women's human rights worldwide. They collaborate with activists and policymakers to influence gender policies and practices and facilitate dialogue on key issues. AWID also advocates for corporate accountability and tax justice.
- Womankind Worldwide is an international women's rights organisation that works in partnership with local movements and organisations in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. They provide practical support, such as shelters for women escaping violence, and help women influence community decisions. They also advocate for international agencies and governments to promote and protect women's rights.
- Plan International is an organisation that promotes gender equality and confronts human rights violations, discrimination, and stereotyping based on gender. They foster an inclusive culture and work towards the adoption of good practices and positive attitudes.
- Women for Women International supports marginalised women in conflict-affected countries, enabling them to earn and save money, improve their well-being, and connect with support networks.
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The National Woman's Party
In 1918, the NWP's relentless lobbying and public support for imprisoned suffragists forced President Woodrow Wilson to endorse a federal woman suffrage amendment. Congress passed the measure in 1919, and the 19th Amendment was signed into law on August 26, 1920. However, achieving this milestone was not easy, and it took decades of agitation and protest by several generations of women's suffrage supporters.
After the passage of the 19th Amendment, the NWP shifted its focus to passing an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Alice Paul, the head of the NWP, believed that the 19th Amendment would not be enough to ensure equal treatment regardless of sex. The ERA, written by Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman, was first introduced in Congress in 1923 and aimed to explicitly prohibit sex discrimination. While the ERA has not become a part of the Constitution, it has continued to gain support, especially with the rise of the women's movement in the 1960s.
The NWP ceased operations as an independent non-profit in 2020, but its legacy is maintained by institutions like the Alice Paul Institute, the National Park Service, and the Library of Congress, which holds the NWP's archives. The NWP's goal of securing full gender equality under the Constitution remains an ongoing pursuit.
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Frequently asked questions
The 19th Amendment, ratified on August 18, 1920, mentions women and granted them the right to vote.
The 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, also known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment, legally guarantees women the right to vote.
The 19th Amendment enfranchised 26 million American women in time for the 1920 US presidential election. However, it failed to fully enfranchise women of color, including African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Native American women.
The campaign for women's suffrage was long and difficult, with supporters employing various strategies such as lecturing, writing, marching, lobbying, and civil disobedience. While some pursued passing suffrage acts in individual states, others challenged male-only voting laws in court.
Yes, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a proposed amendment to the US Constitution that aimed to explicitly prohibit sex discrimination and guarantee equal rights for women. While it was approved by Congress in the 1970s, it was never ratified and is not currently part of the Constitution.
