The 19Th Amendment: Women's Right To Vote

The 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, also known as Amendment XIX, is of paramount importance as it prohibits the United States and its states from denying any citizen the right to vote based on sex, thereby effectively recognizing women's right to vote. The amendment was the culmination of a long and arduous journey for women's suffrage in the United States, dating back to the mid-19th century, when women began to organize, petition, and picket to secure their right to vote. Despite facing fierce resistance, women's suffrage supporters persisted through lecturing, writing, marching, lobbying, and civil disobedience, ultimately achieving a landmark victory with the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

Explore related products

The Concise History of Woman Suffrage: Selections from History of Woman Suffrage, by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Matilda Joslyn Gage, and the National American Woman Suffrage Association

$28

Woman Suffrage and Politics: The Inner Story of the Suffrage Movement

$12.29 $24.95

American Women's Suffrage: Voices from the Long Struggle for the Vote 1776-1965 (LOA #332) (The Library of America)

$40

THE HISTORY OF WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE - Complete 6 Volumes (Illustrated): Chronicles of Feminism's Pioneers and Their Fight for Equality

$1.99

History Of Woman Suffrage Vol 1

$27.99 $50.99

The Woman's Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote

$10.84 $20

The 19th Amendment grants women the right to vote

The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which was passed on June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920, guarantees American women the right to vote. The 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."

The women's suffrage movement began at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, and the fight for the inclusion of universal suffrage as a civil right in the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments picked up during the Reconstruction Era after the Civil War. Despite these efforts, the Supreme Court rejected arguments for women's voting rights based on the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments in Minor v. Happersett. This spurred a shift towards advocating for a new constitutional amendment.

Beginning in the mid-19th century, several generations of women's suffrage supporters lectured, wrote, marched, lobbied, and practiced civil disobedience to achieve what many Americans considered a radical change to the Constitution. The National Woman Suffrage Association, founded in 1869 by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, played a key role in this movement. In the 1890s, suffrage organizations focused on pursuing a national amendment while continuing to work at the state and local levels.

The entry of the United States into World War I helped shift public perception in favour of women's suffrage. By 1916, almost all major suffrage organizations united behind the goal of a constitutional amendment. The amendment was first introduced in Congress in 1878 and was approved in 1919, but it took decades of agitation and protest to achieve this milestone. The 19th Amendment's adoption was a significant step towards gender equality in the United States, legally guaranteeing women the right to participate in the democratic process.

The fight for women's suffrage was long and difficult

The fight for women's suffrage in the United States was a long and arduous journey that spanned decades. Beginning in the mid-19th century, women's suffrage supporters faced a challenging task of convincing a largely resistant American society to accept what was considered a radical change to the Constitution. Despite the challenges, they persevered, employing a variety of strategies to achieve their goal.

The women's rights movement gained momentum at the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention in New York, and the fight for suffrage intensified during the Reconstruction Era after the Civil War. Notable figures like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton played pivotal roles in advocating for women's voting rights. They brought the issue to federal court, arguing that the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments guaranteed voting rights for women, but their efforts were struck down by the Supreme Court in Minor v. Happersett.

In 1878, a proposal for the Nineteenth Amendment was introduced to Congress but was rejected in 1887. Undeterred, suffrage organizations continued their efforts, with some pursuing state-level legislation while others challenged male-only voting laws in the courts. The entry of the United States into World War I helped shift public perception, and by 1916, most major suffrage organizations united behind the goal of a constitutional amendment.

The National American Woman Suffrage Association, led by Carrie Chapman Catt, employed a dual-track strategy known as "The Winning Plan," which combined state-level organizing with lobbying at the nation's capital. However, some activists, including Alice Paul, felt this approach was too slow, leading to the formation of the National Woman's Party, solely dedicated to pursuing a constitutional amendment.

The suffrage movement employed various tactics, including lectures, writing, marching, lobbying, and civil disobedience. They faced fierce resistance, with opponents heckling, jailing, and even physically abusing supporters. Despite the challenges, their relentless efforts bore fruit when Congress approved the Nineteenth Amendment on June 4, 1919, and it was ratified by the required number of states on August 18, 1920, marking a significant victory for women's rights in the United States.

Women's suffrage organisations and their strategies

Women's suffrage organisations played a crucial role in the decades-long struggle for voting rights, employing a variety of strategies to achieve their goal of a constitutional amendment. Beginning in the mid-19th century, several generations of suffragists lectured, wrote, marched, lobbied, and practiced civil disobedience to bring about what many Americans considered a radical constitutional change.

One of the earliest organised efforts was the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. This convention produced the Declaration of Sentiments, modelled on the Declaration of Independence, which called for equality between the sexes and included a demand for women's suffrage. The movement gained support from other countries, especially England, where a similar campaign was underway.

In the 1870s, a notable disagreement emerged within the movement regarding the 15th Amendment, which granted Black men the right to vote. This led to a "schism" and the formation of two new organisations with different strategies. One notable strategy was to pursue suffrage acts in individual states, and by 1912, nine western states had adopted such legislation. Another approach was to legally challenge male-only voting laws in the courts.

Some suffragists, like Susan B. Anthony, adopted more confrontational tactics. Anthony famously voted in the 1872 election in Rochester, NY, knowing she would be arrested, to challenge existing laws. Other tactics included picketing, silent vigils, and hunger strikes, which often met with fierce resistance, including jail time and physical abuse.

In the early 20th century, suffragists began staging large and dramatic parades to draw attention to their cause. Organisations like the Cambridge Political Equality Association (CPEA), founded in 1896, worked with other groups to encourage women to register and vote in local elections. They also sponsored lectures, organised rallies, and raised funds through social events.

By 1916, most major suffrage organisations united behind the goal of a national constitutional amendment, which was achieved with the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. The National American Woman Suffrage Association, led by Carrie Chapman Catt, played a key role in this final push, leveraging the context of World War I to argue for women's right to vote.

Explore related products

Suffrage: Women's Long Battle for the Vote

$10.96 $18

The Women's Suffrage Movement

$16.74 $18

The Woman Suffrage Cook Book (Cooking in America)

$12.06 $14.95

Public Faces, Secret Lives

$17.25 $20

Massachusetts in the Woman Suffrage Movement: Revolutionary Reformers (American Heritage)

$21.99

Suffrage Song: The Haunted History of Gender, Race and Voting Rights in the U.S.

$30.62 $34.99

Women's suffrage in the media

The 19th Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees women's suffrage, stating 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". The road to the 19th Amendment was long and arduous, with pro-suffrage organisations employing various tactics, including legal arguments based on existing amendments. Despite these efforts, the US Supreme Court struck down these arguments, leading activists like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton to demand a new constitutional amendment.

The journey to securing women's right to vote in the US is a story of resilience and determination, and it has been depicted in various forms in the media, including songs, films, documentaries, and television programmes. For instance, the 1976 song "Sufferin' Till Suffrage" from Schoolhouse Rock! celebrates the 19th Amendment, with lyrics like "Not a woman here could vote, no matter what age, Then the Nineteenth Amendment struck down that restrictive rule".

Several documentaries have also explored this topic, including "One Woman, One Vote", narrated by actor Susan Sarandon, which chronicles the Seneca Falls Convention and the journey to the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Ken Burns' 1999 documentary, "Not For Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony", also delves into the lives of these influential activists.

The 2004 drama "Iron Jawed Angels" offers a more creative portrayal of the suffragist movement, with actors Hilary Swank and Frances O'Connor playing Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, two pivotal leaders in the fight for the 19th Amendment.

The media's engagement with the story of women's suffrage extends beyond entertainment. News organisations like "The 19th" and "Suffrage and the Media" are dedicated to empowering women and ensuring equal participation in democracy. During significant anniversaries, such as the 75th and 100th celebrations of Women's Equality Day, news coverage increases, with organisations like the National Constitution Center and National Archives and Records Administration planning large events and exhibits.

The impact of the 19th Amendment on women of colour

The 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, passed on June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920, was a monumental step towards gender equality in the United States. It legally guaranteed American women the right to vote, marking a significant victory for the women's suffrage movement. However, the impact of this amendment on women of colour was more complex and nuanced.

From the earliest years of the suffrage movement, Black women actively participated and worked alongside white suffragists. However, as the movement progressed, it became increasingly divided along racial lines, particularly in the aftermath of the Civil War. The proposal of the 15th Amendment, which would grant Black men the right to vote but exclude women, caused interracial coalitions to fracture. As a result, Black women formed their own organisations to secure and protect the rights of all women and men. Despite their efforts, African American women faced marginalisation and discrimination within the suffrage movement. White suffragists often prioritised racial prejudice over unity, as evidenced by Susan B. Anthony's request for Frederick Douglass to skip a convention to avoid offending southern hosts.

Even after the passage of the 19th Amendment, women of colour continued to face significant barriers to exercising their right to vote. They encountered racial and ethnic discrimination, violence, and intimidation. Poll taxes, literacy tests, and other discriminatory state voting laws were used to disenfranchise Black women and men for decades after the amendment. Native American women were also excluded, as they did not gain the right to vote until the Snyder Act of 1924. Asian American immigrant women were denied the right to vote until 1952 with the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The complex intersection of gender and racial discrimination meant that the 19th Amendment did not bring about immediate voting rights for women of colour. Their struggle for suffrage continued, and it was not until the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965 that legal protections were put in place to ensure their inclusion in the democratic process.

In conclusion, while the 19th Amendment was a significant milestone for women's rights in the United States, it did not automatically grant voting rights to women of colour. They faced additional obstacles due to racial discrimination and were often excluded from the political process through violence, intimidation, and discriminatory voting laws. It took further legislative action and activism to address these injustices and ensure that women of colour could fully exercise their right to vote.

Frequently asked questions