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Suffrage Groups
Beginning near the 1830s women began to form suffrage groups. They tried strategies such as petitions, pickets, parades, vigils, and hunger strikes. Women worked tirelessly to increase the size of their suffrage group and influence the minds of those who disagreed with them. The women were sometimes physically abused or taken to jail. They had the supporters, but no leader. -
Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention was the first Women's rights convention in the United States. It was held in July of 1848. This meeting, more than seven decades before the 19th amendment, ensured women the right to vote. Elizabeth Cady Stanton released a statement of grievances and demands that called upon women to organize and petition for their rights. -
Complications
240 women suffragists have already met at the Seneca Falls Convention. They planned for more conventions, but had complications. They ran into issues such as the North/South began to have more conflict. Eventually the civil war broke out and put a damper on the women's suffrage movement. It was basically a standstill for the five years of the Civil War. -
Combining Forces
In May of 1866 the 11th National Women's rights Convention had occurred. Eleven conventions have been held but no women in particular has risen to power. During this convention the American Equal Rights Association was created. The members wanted to achieve suffrage for both African-American and White women. -
Leader Arises
Finally a leader has taken control of the Women's suffrage movement. Susan B. Anthony. Susan was a persistent, courageous, and stubborn women. She fought for women's rights right away when she was named the head of the American Equal Rights Association. -
15th Amendment
After the civil war the reconstruction amendments were ratified. African Americans were given the right to vote via the 15th amendment. Women's rights activists had mixed emotions about this. Some believed it was a step towards the right for women to vote while others felt offended. -
Susan's Arrest
Susan B. Anthony was arrested for voting during the 1872 election of Ulysses Grant and Horace Greeley. She refused to pay bail and applied for habeas corpus, which is the demand of a trial. She ended up not going to jail. -
First Political Step
Almost 40 years before the amendment that allowed women to vote was ratified, the original proposition was denied. In 1878 women had aggressively lobbied congress to approve the amendment. Obviously the amendment died and wasn't proposed again until 1919. Senator Aaron Sargent of California first proposed the amendment. -
Merging Together
The National Women Suffrage Association and the American Women Suffrage Association merge to form the National American Women Suffrage Association. Basically, NWSA + AWSA = NAWSA. They focused on gaining the states approval for voting rights. -
Aggression Arises
A new party was created called the NWP, National Women's Party. The began to more aggressively protest. They went and picketed the White House. They were against President Wilson's decision to go to war. They couldn't understand how a president would fight for democracy but wouldn't actually give their country democracy. -
Wilson Gives In
In September of 1918, President Wilson addressed to the senate and proposed the 19th amendment. The National Women's Party had succeeded in picketing the White House. -
Stage 1 of 2
In June of 1919, both the house of representatives and senate had a 2/3 vote to pass the 19th amendment. The amendment was then sent to the states so it could be ratified. -
Stage 2 of 2
The 19th amendment was ratified. Women suffrage movements had won. Luckily for them, it was also an election year so therefore more than 8 million women voted just 4 months after the amendment was ratified.
