A Century of Women's Suffrage

The right to vote: A century of women's suffrage

August 26, 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the certification of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution. 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." Adding an amendment to the Constitution requires support from three-fourths of the states, which in 1920 was 36 states. Hawaii and Alaska were still territories. Twelve states didn't ratify the 19th Amendment initially, but because it was ratified by three-fourths of the states, the right to vote applied to all 48 states and territories.

Did you know that Mississippi was the last state to ratify the 19th Amendment? The map below shows which states initially ratified the 19th Amendment and which states didn't. Notice that some states already supported women’s right to vote before the 19th Amendment was passed, though some women, especially minorities, faced challenges exercising their right to vote even after the 19th amendment was passed. Hover over a state to see its official ratification date.

Women's voting rights prior to the 19th Amendment

Did you know that fifteen states allowed women to vote before the 19th Amendment was passed? Between 1867 and August 18, 1920, these states allowed women to vote. The map below shows where suffrage was approved, defeated, or not proposed. Hover over a state to see the last date the measure was considered.
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What about men and women of color?

Men and women of color were active in the suffrage movement. Some Black women tended to focus on the belief that suffrage should be granted to all people regardless of gender or race. To them, the right to vote was a human right to empower Black communities. White women viewed the right to vote as a way to gain parity with the men in their lives. A rift developed between white women suffragists and Black suffragists when Black men were given the right to vote in 1870 with the ratification of the 15th Amendment. Some Black women celebrated the 15th Amendment as a win because it was another step closer to universal suffrage. The ratification of the 15th amendment was regarded as a slight by some white women.

With the ratification of the 19th Amendment, everyone of legal voting age in the US should have had the ability to vote in their local and national elections. It wasn't that simple. Poll taxes, literacy tests, grandfather clauses, and intimidation kept many Black men and women from voting. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 made practices that disenfranchised racial minorities illegal.

The right to vote: A century of women's suffrage

Women's voting rights prior to the 19th Amendment

What about men and women of color?

Voter participation