We’re celebrating this August with a journey through the 19th Amendment because it’s the 100th anniversary of Women’s Right to Vote!
In honor of this amazing feat for our country here’s some history of this amendment.
- Did you know that in 1797 single women were temporarily granted the right to vote in New Jersey? As a New Yorker I have to think, ugh New Jersey did it first? But how amazing is that! The state’s original constitution, which was adopted in 1776 declared that all inhabitants that were worth 50 pounds would be able to vote. Since this was so vague, new wording was adopted in 1797 when the State Assembly granted the women suffrage. For 10 years, single women were allowed to vote, married women on the other hand were not permitted because their husbands controlled all of their property and therefore didn’t have the “50 pounds” necessary. Then, in 1807, the Assembly passed a new law that only permitted “free, white male citizens” who were 21 and over.
Suffragettes in San Francisco, Library of Congress - Another fun fact was that President Woodrow Wilson tried to pass National Suffrage in 1918 with World War One still raging. The House actually passed the bill, and then Wilson addressed the Senate stating, “We have made partners of women in this war. Shall we admit them only to a partnership of suffering and sacrifice and toil and not to a partnership of privilege and right?” But unfortunately, the amendment didn’t pass in the Senate.
- There was also a rumor that circulated that a woman might be on the ballot for the Democratic party in 1920, the democrats were allegedly looking into DNC Committeewoman Anna Dickie Olesen for their pick as Vice President, but instead it went to FDR.
Women getting out to vote in Wyoming, Library of Congress - Wyoming is now called “The Equality State” and in 1869 the territory at the time led the charge for suffrage. The state sponsored a bill that every woman would be able to vote, but when Wyoming applied for statehood, Congress threatened to deny it unless the suffrage bill was revoke. But Wyoming told Congress to suck it and said “We will remain out of the union [for] 100 years rather than come in without the women.” Congress allowed Wyoming to become the 44th state in 1890 with all of the female voters.
- There were some state holdouts until WAYYY later for the 19th amendment. Mississippi didn’t ratify the 19th amendment until March 22, 1984! Come on Mississippi! But never late than never.
Here’s to 100 more years of suffrage! And luckily there are now so many more ways to feel healthier as women and menstruators in this day and age.
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