Eleanor Finch
The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibits the United States and its states from denying any citizen the right to vote on the basis of sex, was passed in 1920. The women's suffrage movement had been active since the mid-19th century, with the first women's suffrage amendment introduced in Congress in 1878. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson endorsed a constitutional amendment, and Congress approved the 19th Amendment, which was then ratified by three-fourths of the states in 1920.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year introduced in Congress | 1878 |
| Year approved by Congress | 1919 |
| Year ratified | 1920 |
| US President at the time | Woodrow Wilson |
| Date of ratification | 18 August 1920 |
| Date of certification | 26 August 1920 |
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What You'll Learn
The 19th Amendment was adopted in 1920
The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, adopted in 1920, was a significant milestone in the country's history, guaranteeing women the right to vote. The amendment reads: "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 was the culmination of a long and arduous journey for women's suffrage, spanning over 70 years of activism, advocacy, and perseverance.
The roots of the women's suffrage movement can be traced back to the mid-19th century, with the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 being a pivotal moment. Women's rights supporters lectured, wrote, marched, lobbied, and even practised civil disobedience to challenge prevailing norms and advocate for change. Despite facing resistance and obstacles, activists like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton persevered, laying the groundwork for future progress.
The first women's suffrage amendment was introduced in Congress in 1878, but it faced rejection in 1887. Undeterred, suffrage organisations continued their efforts, and by the late 19th century, several western states granted women the right to vote. The entry of the United States into World War I played a role in shifting public perception and building momentum for the cause.
In 1916, the National Women's Party (NWP) was formed, led by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns. They employed more attention-grabbing and militant tactics, including a two-and-a-half-year protest outside the White House. Their efforts, along with increasing public pressure, influenced President Woodrow Wilson to announce his support for a constitutional amendment during his 1918 State of the Union address.
In 1919, the amendment passed in the House of Representatives and the Senate, and the focus shifted to achieving ratification by the states. On August 18, 1920, Tennessee provided the crucial 36th ratification, and the 19th Amendment was officially adopted into the U.S. Constitution. This amendment not only recognised the right of women to vote but also symbolised the power of democratic ideals and the enduring quest for equality.
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The right to vote for women
The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, also known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment, guarantees American women the right to vote. The journey to achieving this milestone was lengthy and difficult, requiring decades of agitation and activism by women's suffrage supporters.
Beginning in the mid-19th century, women's suffrage supporters lectured, wrote, marched, lobbied, and practiced civil disobedience to achieve what many Americans considered radical change. The first women's suffrage amendment was introduced in Congress in 1878 but was rejected in 1887. Despite this setback, suffrage organizations continued to advocate for a national amendment while also working at the state and local levels.
In the late 19th century, several states and territories, particularly in the West, began to grant women the right to vote. Wyoming Territory granted women the right to vote in all elections in 1869, and by the end of the century, it was joined by Utah, Colorado, and Idaho. However, it became apparent that an amendment to the federal Constitution was necessary to secure the right to vote for women nationwide.
In the early 1900s, Carrie Chapman Catt revitalized the National Woman Suffrage Association and helped New York achieve state-level suffrage in 1917. The following year, President Woodrow Wilson endorsed women's suffrage in his State of the Union address and appealed to Congress to support a constitutional amendment. With Wilson's support and 15 states granting equal voting rights to women, the women's suffrage amendment gained momentum.
In May and June 1919, the amendment passed both the House and Senate and was sent to the states for ratification. Tennessee provided the final ratification necessary by approving the Nineteenth Amendment on August 18, 1920. The amendment prohibited the United States and its states from denying the right to vote to citizens on the basis of sex, effectively recognizing the right of women to vote.
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The amendment prohibits voting discrimination based on sex
The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which came into effect on 26 August 1920, prohibits voting discrimination based on sex. 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. It was also part of a worldwide movement towards women's suffrage and a broader women's rights movement.
The 19th Amendment states: "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 was the first to explicitly mention women and it extended voting rights to millions of women across the country. However, it did not end voting discrimination for all women.
Before the 19th Amendment, women had been denied many basic rights granted to men, including the right to own property and the right to vote. While the women's suffrage movement gained momentum in the mid-19th century, it wasn't until the late 19th century that new states and territories, particularly in the West, began to grant women the right to vote. In 1878, a proposal for the 19th Amendment was introduced to Congress but was rejected in 1887. In 1890, two major women's organisations merged to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association, which advocated for the right to vote for women at the state level. Despite these efforts, progress stalled between 1896 and 1910.
In the early 1900s, Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, revitalised the organisation by shifting its focus to the passage of a federal amendment. This strategy, later called "The Winning Plan", had several goals, including gaining support from congressmen who backed women's suffrage. In 1917, New York achieved state-level suffrage, and in 1918, President Woodrow Wilson endorsed women's suffrage in his State of the Union address.
The 19th Amendment was approved by Congress in 1919 and ratified on 18 August 1920, when Tennessee provided the final ratification. However, the amendment's passage did not immediately grant all women the right to vote. Black women, Indigenous women, Asian American women, and women from other racial and ethnic minority groups continued to face discrimination and voter suppression for several decades. It wasn't until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 that voting rights were protected for all women, regardless of race, ethnicity, or disability status.
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The amendment was the result of a decades-long movement
The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, passed on August 18, 1920, was the culmination of a decades-long movement for women's suffrage in the United States. The women's suffrage movement began in the mid-19th century, with several generations of supporters lecturing, writing, marching, lobbying, and practising civil disobedience to achieve what many Americans considered a radical change in the Constitution.
The movement gained momentum in 1848, with the Seneca Falls Convention, which adopted the Declaration of Sentiments, calling for equality between the sexes and urging women to secure the vote. Despite this early progress, it was not until 70 years later, in 1919, that Congress passed a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment extending the right of suffrage to women.
During this long struggle, suffragists used a variety of tactics to make their voices heard. In addition to the more peaceful strategies of lecturing, writing, and lobbying, some suffragists employed more confrontational methods such as picketing, silent vigils, and hunger strikes. In 1913, more than 5,000 suffragists paraded down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC, to draw attention to their cause. During World War I, they tried to embarrass President Woodrow Wilson, who opposed women's suffrage, into supporting a federal amendment.
The amendment was first introduced in Congress in 1878 but was rejected in 1887. It was then that suffrage organizations shifted their focus to a national amendment while continuing to work at the state and local levels. By 1912, nine western states had adopted women's suffrage legislation. The amendment finally passed the House of Representatives and the Senate in May and June 1919, respectively, and was submitted to the states for ratification.
On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the amendment, and Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby certified the ratification on August 26, 1920, changing the face of the American electorate forever. However, it is important to note that despite the passage of the amendment, many women, especially women of colour, were still unable to vote due to discriminatory state voting laws, literacy tests, long residency requirements, and poll taxes.
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President Woodrow Wilson supported the amendment
President Woodrow Wilson was in office at the pinnacle of the women's suffrage movement in 1913. While Wilson had voted in support of suffrage in New Jersey in 1915, he continued to argue that states, not the federal government, should decide whether to recognise women's suffrage. Wilson's support for the 19th Amendment was, therefore, a long time coming.
In 1917, suffragists picketed outside the White House, demanding that Wilson's support extend beyond what they deemed to be mere lip service. Some picketers were arrested for refusing to give up their banners, and onlookers often provoked or attacked them. Despite this, Wilson would not engage with the picketers. However, their radicalism ultimately made negotiations with the more moderate Carrie Chapman Catt and the NAWSA more palatable to Wilson.
In January 1918, Wilson announced his support for a constitutional amendment during his State of the Union address. This was a turning point in the fight for the 19th Amendment. With Wilson's support, and 15 states granting equal voting rights to women, the women's suffrage amendment was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, where it passed by a two-thirds majority. In a 1918 speech before Congress, Wilson – for the first time in his time in office – publicly endorsed women's rights to vote. He asked Congress:
> We have made partners of the women in this war… Shall we admit them only to a partnership of suffering and sacrifice and toil and not to a partnership of privilege and right?
Despite Wilson's words, the proposal fell two votes short of passage, prompting the National Woman's Party to launch targeted campaigns against the senators who voted against the amendment. Wilson continued to speak in defence of the amendment, consulting with members of Congress through personal and written appeals, often on his own initiative.
While historians debate the extent to which Wilson supported the amendment, with some arguing that his support was lukewarm at best, and others suggesting he was boxed into a corner politically, the amendment's passage in 1920 was a turning point in the modern era of women's rights in the United States. Wilson himself spoke fondly of its passage, saying:
> I deem it one of the greatest honors of my life that this great event, so stoutly fought for, for so many years, should have occurred during the period of my administration.
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Frequently asked questions
President Woodrow Wilson was in power when the 19th Amendment was passed.
The 19th Amendment was approved by Congress in 1919 and ratified on 18 August 1920.
The 19th Amendment prohibits the United States and its states from denying any citizen the right to vote based on sex, effectively recognising women's right to vote.
