Simone Lawson
The Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which was passed by Congress on June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920, gave women the right to vote. The amendment was the culmination of a decades-long movement for women's suffrage in the United States, at both the state and national levels, and was part of the worldwide movement towards women's suffrage and the wider women's rights movement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Amendment | 19th Amendment or Amendment XIX |
| Date of Proposal | June 4, 1919 |
| Date of Ratification | August 18, 1920 |
| Date of Adoption | August 26, 1920 |
| Number of States Required for Ratification | 36 |
| Number of States that Ratified | 36 |
| Last State to Ratify | Tennessee |
| Number of American Women Enfranchised | 26 million |
| Percentage of Eligible Women Who Voted in 1920 | 36% |
| Percentage of Eligible Men Who Voted in 1920 | 68% |
| Year Women's Suffrage Amendment First Introduced in Congress | 1878 |
| Year of Passage of Suffrage Acts in Nine Western States | 1912 |
| Year National Women's Party (NWP) was Formed | 1916 |
| Year of Passage of Voting Rights Act | 1965 |
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What You'll Learn
The 19th Amendment
> "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."
The road to women's suffrage was long and arduous, spanning over a century and involving the tireless efforts of generations of activists. The campaign included lectures, writing, marches, lobbying, and civil disobedience, with suffragists employing both confrontational and legal tactics. The first women's suffrage amendment was introduced in Congress in 1878, but it wasn't until 1919 that an amendment finally passed the House of Representatives and the Senate.
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Women's suffrage
The roots of the women's suffrage movement can be traced back to the mid-19th century, with the emergence of women's rights organizations such as the Seneca Falls Convention, which advocated for equality between the sexes and called for women's suffrage. The first women's suffrage amendment was introduced in Congress in 1878, but it faced strong opposition and was not passed.
Despite the challenges, women continued to organize, lobby, and protest for their right to vote. They employed various strategies, including legal arguments, picketing, silent vigils, and even hunger strikes. The formation of organizations like the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) in 1890 and the National Women's Party (NWP) in 1916 further unified and strengthened the movement.
By 1919, with increasing public pressure, Congress approved the 19th Amendment, which was then ratified by the required 36 states on August 18, 1920, going into effect as part of the U.S. Constitution. This amendment prohibited the denial of the right to vote based on sex, ensuring that women's suffrage was legally protected.
However, it is important to note that even after the passage of the 19th Amendment, many women, particularly women of color, continued to face barriers to voting due to discriminatory state laws, literacy tests, residency requirements, and poll taxes. It would take further legislative efforts, such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965, to fully protect the voting rights of all women, regardless of race or ethnicity.
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Voting rights
The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which came into effect on August 18, 1920, granted women the right to vote. The amendment was the culmination of a long and arduous campaign by women's suffrage supporters, which began in the mid-19th century. The movement involved lectures, marches, lobbying, and civil disobedience, with the goal of achieving what many Americans considered a radical constitutional change.
The first women's suffrage amendment was introduced in Congress in 1878, but it was not until May 21, 1919, that an amendment finally passed the House of Representatives, quickly followed by the Senate on June 4, 1919. The amendment was then submitted to the states for ratification, requiring approval from three-quarters of the states to become a Constitutional Amendment. This was achieved on August 18, 1920, when Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the amendment.
The 19th Amendment states that "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." This amendment legally guarantees American women the right to vote and enfranchised 26 million women in time for the 1920 U.S. presidential election. However, it is important to note that the amendment did not fully enfranchise all women, as many women of colour, particularly in the South, continued to face discrimination and voter suppression due to racially discriminatory tactics.
While the 19th Amendment was a significant milestone in the history of women's suffrage, the fight for equal voting rights did not end there. Even after the amendment's passage, women from various racial and ethnic backgrounds, such as Black women, Indigenous women, and Asian American women, continued to face barriers to voting due to discriminatory state voting laws. It was not until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that legal protections were extended to prohibit discrimination against all women, regardless of race or ethnicity.
In conclusion, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was a pivotal moment in the struggle for women's voting rights, but it also highlighted the ongoing challenges and the need for continued efforts to ensure full and equal voting rights for all women.
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Women's rights movement
The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, also known as the Suffrage Amendment, was passed by Congress on June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920. This amendment granted women the right to vote and legally guaranteed American women the right to vote. The road to achieving this milestone was long and challenging, spanning decades of agitation and protest. The women's rights movement, which began in the mid-19th century, played a pivotal role in this struggle.
The women's rights movement laid the foundation for the push towards women's suffrage. Starting in the 1800s, women employed various strategies to secure their right to vote, including organizing, petitioning, and picketing. The first women's suffrage amendment was introduced in Congress in 1878, but it faced strong resistance and took decades to come to fruition. Activists like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were instrumental in this movement, advocating for a constitutional amendment that guaranteed women's voting rights.
The Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, marked a significant milestone in the women's rights movement. About 300 people, mostly women, gathered to outline a direction for the movement. Stanton's Declaration of Sentiments echoed the Declaration of Independence, asserting that "all men and women are created equal." This convention sparked a broader discussion about the social, civil, and religious conditions and rights of women.
Despite the backlash and ridicule faced by the women's rights movement, their efforts persisted. By 1916, almost all major suffrage organizations united behind the goal of a constitutional amendment. The National Women's Party (NWP), formed in 1916, played a crucial role in advocating for women's suffrage. The 19th Amendment's adoption was certified on August 26, 1920, officially becoming part of the U.S. Constitution and guaranteeing women's voting rights.
However, it is important to note that the 19th Amendment did not fully enfranchise all women. While it extended voting rights to 26 million American women, African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Native American women still faced discrimination and voter suppression. It was not until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and subsequent legislation that women's right to vote was more comprehensively protected, regardless of race or ethnicity.
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Equality between the sexes
The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, also known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment, was passed on June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920. This amendment was a culmination of a decades-long movement for women's suffrage at both the state and national levels. It was also part of a worldwide movement towards women's suffrage and the wider women's rights movement.
The 19th Amendment extended voting rights to women by prohibiting the United States and its states from denying any citizen the right to vote based on sex. This amendment was the result of a long and difficult campaign that began in the mid-19th century, with several generations of women's suffrage supporters lecturing, writing, marching, lobbying, and practising civil disobedience to achieve what many Americans considered a radical change to the Constitution.
The road to achieving women's suffrage was not straightforward, with various strategies employed to achieve the goal. Some pursued a strategy of passing suffrage acts in each state, with nine western states adopting women's suffrage legislation by 1912. Others challenged male-only voting laws in court, while some suffragists used more confrontational tactics such as picketing, silent vigils, and hunger strikes. Despite the challenges, the movement gained momentum in the early 20th century, with 22 states granting women full or partial voting rights before the 19th Amendment was passed.
While the 19th Amendment was a significant step towards equality between the sexes, it did not immediately guarantee voting rights for all women. Many women, particularly African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Native American women, continued to face discrimination and voter suppression long after the amendment's passage. It was not until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 that women's right to vote was fully protected, regardless of race, ethnicity, or disability status.
The fight for equality between the sexes did not end with the 19th Amendment, as women continued to face inequalities in various aspects of life. The National Woman's Party, led by Alice Paul, began working on the Equal Rights Amendment shortly after the 19th Amendment's adoption, recognising the need for further steps towards equality. The ongoing efforts of activists and organisations have played a crucial role in advancing equality between the sexes, building upon the foundation laid by the 19th Amendment's guarantee of women's suffrage.
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Frequently asked questions
The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
The amendment was passed by Congress on June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920.
The Nineteenth Amendment extended voting rights to women by prohibiting the United States and its states from denying the right to vote based on sex.
No. While the Nineteenth Amendment enfranchised 26 million American women, it failed to fully enfranchise African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Native American women. Many women of colour, particularly in the South, were excluded from the voting process due to discriminatory state voting laws and the racially discriminatory tactics of the Jim Crow era.
The campaign for women's suffrage was long and difficult, with several generations of activists advocating for change. Beginning in the mid-19th century, women's rights organisations became more active, and in 1848, the Seneca Falls Convention adopted the Declaration of Sentiments, which called for equality between the sexes and included a resolution urging women to secure the vote. Over time, various tactics were employed, including legal arguments, picketing, silent vigils, and hunger strikes. The first women's suffrage amendment was introduced in Congress in 1878, but it was not until 1919 that the amendment finally passed through both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
