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1st World Anti-Slavery Convention
The World Anti-Slavery Convention is held in London. Abolitionists Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton attend, but they are barred from participating in the meeting. This snub leads them to decide to hold a women's rights convention when they return to America. Importance: For the first time, women realize how much men discriminated them from political equality. Without this meeting, women may have had to suffer discrimination much longer. -
First Women's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York
Three hundred people attend the first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York. Among the attendees are Amelia Bloomer, Charlotte Woodward,Frederick Douglas and Lucretia Mott's husband James Presides. Stanton authors the Declaration of Sentiments, which sets the agenda for decades of women's activism. A larger meeting follows in Rochester. Importance: After realizing the injustice women faced, it took a long time to have the first convention for the women to unify themselves along w -
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Civil War
The Civil War. Suffrage efforts nearly come to a complete halt as women put their enfranchisement aside and pitch in for the war effort. Importance: After realizing their disadvantage, women continue to be servants for men. As events later unfolds, men just use women and never give them any rights they deserve such as voting. -
The 11th National Women's Rights Convention
1866 - The Eleventh National Women's Rights Convention, the first since the beginning of the Civil War, is held in New York City. Lucretia Mott presides over a merger between suffragists and the American Anti-Slavery Association: the new group is called the American Equal Rights Association. Importance: Suffragists and abolitionists work together for a common cause: equal rights for all Americans. However, the women were later betrayed after black men receive their voting rights. -
Passing of the 14th Amendment
The 14th amendment passes granted former slaves the right to vote. The amendment specifies the word “male” officially excluding women’s suffrage. Anthony and Stanton are outraged. Arguments lead to a split in the movement. Importance: After working so hard alongside women, it is only black men that get to vote. The work done by the women seemed insignificant, showing how much men, regardless of their own political status, belittle women. -
Fouding of National Woman Suffrage Association
Stanton and Anthony form the National Woman Suffrage Association; it allows only female membership and advocates for woman suffrage above all other issues. Lucy Stone forms the American Woman Suffrage Association, which supports the Fifteenth Amendment and invites men to participate. Importance: After being rejected by their fellow activists, women must rely on themselves to acquire their rights. Even though they suffered so much discrimination in their activism, women continued their struggle -
Ratification of the 15th Amendment
The Fifteenth Amendment is ratified. Although its gender-neutral language appears to grant women the vote, women who go to the polls to test the amendment are turned away. Importance: Even though the language of the law does not seem to exclude women, women are excluded from voting. -
Women Recieve Voting Rights in Washington Territory
Women in the Washington territory are granted full voting rights. Prominent suffragists travel to Liverpool, where they form the International Council of Women. At this meeting, the leaders of the National and American associations work together, laying the foundation for reconciliation between these two groups. Importance: Women’s efforts are finally having an impact. However, it took more than thirty years since actions first began. Compared to the African Americans, it took a lot less time -
Jeanette Rankin Becomes First Congresswoman in the U.S.
Woodrow Wilson promises that the Democratic Party Platform will endorse suffrage. Meanwhile, the CU transforms itself into the National Woman's Party. Montana elects suffragist Jeanette Rankin to the House of Representatives. Importance: After decades of protests, the suffrage movement is finally being recognized and it seems that women may be able to obtain their goal. The first woman is elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, which is a huge milestone. Not only was she able to support -
Ratification of the 19th Amendment
Despite the political subversion of anti-suffragists, particularly in Tennessee, three quarters of state legislatures ratify the Nineteenth Amendment on 26 August. American women win full voting rights. Importance: The women finally gain a say in their government after decades of hard work. The amount of time taken to reach this progress shows how profound the discrimination of women are.
