Prior to Aug. 26, 1920 women in the United States could not participate in the democratic process. They were not permitted to vote, they could not own property and they could not retain custody of their own children. Following the Civil War, American women wanted to have more input into the decisions that would impact their lives. In order for women to gain suffrage groups across the nation had to gather together and create a unified effort for change.
The Seneca Falls Convention of 1848, the first formal conference for woman’s suffrage, challenged America to a revolution that would endure for more than seven decades before women actually were granted the right to vote. Convened by Elizabeth Stanton and Lucretia Mott, the conventions aim was to empower women and invoke change through suffrage for women. Since the Civil War women had begun to feel the need to represent themselves and be able to participate in the decision making process which would affect their daily lives.
The community of women who gathered in 1848 faced their first challenge in 1869 when the 15th amendment, which extended the right to vote to African-American men, was introduced and passed. Women across the nation had hoped that this amendment would include them.
Following the Civil War, woman’s study groups flourished. These groups gave women access to education and an intellectual forum. By the early twentieth century communication was also more effective and women across the nation had more experiences and were generally better prepared to organize themselves. However, this was also a quiet time for the suffrage movement. It was not until 1914 when a younger generation of women began to hold street presentations, parades and other activism stunts to gain attention.
In 1915 the National Woman’s Party formed and began to campaign against the party in power. At this time women were being arrested for their action and in jail some were mistreated. The mistreatment of women gained much attention creating public sympathy for the suffragists. Although World War I slowed the progression of suffrage by 1919 women the 19th amendment was officially passed. By Aug. 26, 1920 then President Woodrow Wilson ratified the amendment allowing women to enter the polls for the first time in the United States.
Voting is just one step toward equality for women. Throughout the 20th century women have formed unions and fought for better working conditions, access to woman's health and the freedom from harassment. Although some advancements have been made in these fields feminists and feminism as a whole has fallen from graces. Today women can vote as well as own property and multimillion dollar companies but there is still work to be done.
