Made By National Constitution Center19th Amendment
Women’s Right to Vote
Universal suffrage proposals first emerged during Reconstruction. Suffragists later modeled their proposal after the 15th Amendment (1870) and settled on language to end gender discrimination in voting. First proposed in 1878, the “Susan B. Anthony Amendment” was introduced in each Congress—unchanged—for the next four decades. Congress finally approved it on June 4, 1919. The 19th Amendment was ratified by three-fourths of the states on August 18, 1920, and certified by the secretary of state on August 26, 1920.
Special thanks to Reva Siegel from Yale Law School for her research in the Congressional Record and her analysis in “She the People: The Nineteenth Amendment, Sex Equality, Federalism, and the Family” and to Laura Free from Hobart and William Smith Colleges for sharing her expertise and reviewing this content. Read the full textThe Drafting Process
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1776
Event
New Jersey allows women to vote
In 1776, New Jersey didn’t restrict voting to men in its state constitution. Women who met certain qualifications voted until 1807, when the state passed a law restricting voting to “free, white, male citizen[s].” Most other states limited voting rights to white male property-holders. Under this system, few people could vote.
1840
Event
World Anti-Slavery Convention
Many women participated in the anti-slavery movement. They petitioned Congress and fought for the right to speak in public. Later, they adopted the constitutional arguments at the core of the anti-slavery cause. When the World Anti-Slavery Convention met in London, women were forced to sit in the gallery. William Lloyd Garrison and others joined them, refusing to take their seats in solidarity.
1848
Event
New York Married Women’s Property Act
Under the legal doctrine known as “coverture,” married women couldn’t sue or be sued, enter into contracts, or hold property of their own. The early women’s rights movement challenged this system and secured key victories even before the Seneca Falls Convention—most notably, when married New York women gained the right to hold property.
1848
Event
Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention was the first women’s rights convention in American history. It attracted nearly 300 people and produced the famous Declaration of Sentiments, which included a resolution for voting rights. Although the gathering endorsed women’s suffrage, the burning issues of the day centered on married women—and their right to contract, own property, and sue or be sued.
1861
Event
Civil War begins
As war broke out at Fort Sumter, women’s rights advocates paused their work to focus on the war effort and slavery’s abolition. Women organized societies to encourage soldier enlistment, sew military flags, prepare soldiers’ supplies, raise money for the troops, and petition against slavery. Women also worked in the medical profession and replaced men in factories, stores, and the patent office.
1865
Event
Civil War ends
Soon after Gen. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, the war ended. Reconstruction was America’s attempt to rebuild—which opened up an opportunity for women’s suffrage. The Republican Party’s focus on civil and political rights for Southern black men made women’s suffrage seem politically possible. If Americans could use the national government to abolish slavery, why not use it to expand the franchise?
1865
Event
13th Amendment is ratified
The 13th Amendment permanently outlawed slavery in the United States. Following decades of activism, resistance, and rebellion, abolitionists—including many women—finally saw their efforts inscribed into the Constitution. With slavery’s abolition, individual rights claims moved to the center of the American political agenda. Might universal suffrage be next?
1866
Event
Advocates embrace universal suffrage
At the outset of Reconstruction, abolitionists and suffragists built a biracial coalition and united around a vision of universal suffrage—one that promoted the voting rights of both women and African-American men. They mobilized around this vision and flooded Congress with petitions. In 1866, these reformers founded the American Equal Rights Association (AERA).
1868
Event
14th Amendment is ratified
The 14th Amendment promoted equal citizenship, but it introduced the word “male” into the Constitution for the first time—threatening to reduce congressional seats for states that did not allow all male citizens over 21 to vote. Some suffragists fought against this discriminatory language, but the amendment was ultimately ratified. As Congress prioritized African-American rights, tensions grew.
1868
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Draft — December 7, 1868
Sen. Pomeroy brings Kansas proposal to the Senate
1868
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Draft — December 8, 1868
Rep. Julian proposes universal suffrage
1869
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Draft — January 29, 1869
Sen. Pomeroy advances a proposal for universal suffrage
1869
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Draft — March 15, 1869
Rep. Julian proposes women's suffrage
1869
Event
Universal suffrage movement splits
The movement disagreed over strategy and the proposed 15th Amendment—causing the American Equal Rights Association to split. The National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) formed in May, and the American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA) organized in November. While the AWSA supported the 15th Amendment, the NWSA opposed it—turning away from its longtime abolitionist allies.
1869
Event
Wyoming Territory grants women suffrage
In 1869, the Wyoming Territory became the first to grant women full suffrage. While some suffragists focused on a national amendment, others insisted that voting had to be won at the state level. State constitutions spelled out who could vote—and who could not. Since states required voters be “male,” suffragists sought to strike that word from state constitutions throughout the nation.
1870
Event
15th Amendment is ratified
The 15th Amendment, ratified by the states in 1870, protected the voting rights of African-American men. Some white suffragists were appalled by their exclusion; these women adopted racist arguments, further fracturing the universal suffrage movement. The suffragists reassessed their tactics.
1872
Event
Women try to vote under the 14th Amendment
Many suffragists, including Susan B. Anthony in 1872, tried to vote under the 14th Amendment. With this “New Departure” plan, women argued that the amendment already protected this right. From 1868 to 1875, hundreds of women tried to register and vote. A few were successful based on where they lived, but many more were not. Some even took their case to court.
1876
Event
Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
The nation celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 1876 in Philadelphia. Denied a spot in the program, suffragists crashed the ceremony. The National Woman Suffrage Association crafted their own Declaration of Rights—adopting the language “no taxation without representation” while calling for suffrage and equality.
1878
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Draft — January 10, 1878
Sen. Sargent introduces a women's suffrage amendment
1882
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Draft — July 10, 1882
Rep. White supports taking action on women's suffrage
1884
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Draft — March 28, 1884
Senate committee recommends amendment
1890
Event
Two mainstream suffrage groups merge
Originally dividing over tactics and the 15th Amendment, the two major suffrage groups—the NWSA and the AWSA—merged to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). In a decade, branches existed in every state. More women joined the cause by the early 1900s—support building among all classes and coalitions forming with the labor movement. Few black women joined the NAWSA due to its racism.
1911
Event
National anti-suffrage group forms
As suffragists grew in strength, anti-suffragists built a campaign of their own—forming the National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage in 1911. Some supported women’s suffrage in theory but opposed a national amendment imposing it on the states. Others worried about extending suffrage to non-educated, non-white populations. Others predicted the destruction of families and a loss of womanhood.
1913
Event
Washington, D.C., national suffrage parade
As campaigns continued at the state level, suffragists organized events to grab the public’s attention. The day before Woodrow Wilson’s inauguration, an estimated 5,000 women gathered in Washington, D.C., for the first national suffrage parade. As the marchers reached Pennsylvania Avenue, angry crowds blocked the way. About 100 women were hospitalized in an incident that made national headlines.
1914
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Draft — March 19, 1914
Sen. Vardaman pushes for state control of voting
1914
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Draft — March 19, 1914
Sen. Williams supports limitations on suffrage
1914
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Draft — March 20, 1914
Sen. Shafroth proposes voting guidelines for the states
1917
Event
Suffragists picket the White House
Eleven states and one territory had granted women full voting rights by 1916. President Wilson continued to believe that suffrage was a state issue. In January 1917, suffragists started picketing the White House—the first time any group had ever done so. Dubbed the “Silent Sentinels,” they continued for an entire year, undeterred by arrests, harsh weather, and sneers from angry passers-by.
1917
Event
Congress declares war on Germany
Congress declared war against Germany in 1917—officially entering World War I. Some suffragists turned their attention to the war effort, demonstrating their loyalty and commitment to democracy. Militant suffragists, however, continued to picket the White House and publicly criticized the president for embracing democracy abroad while leaving half of the population without the vote at home.
1917
Event
New York grants women suffrage
By the 1910s, the women’s suffrage cause had grown into a mass movement. At first, its state-level victories remained concentrated in the West. The movement suffered defeats in the East, including a failed New York ballot measure in 1915. However, in 1917, suffragists scored a huge victory in New York: It became the first Eastern state to grant women full suffrage.
1918
Ratification
House passes the amendment
Influenced by the war and shifting public opinion, Wilson reversed position and implored Congress to support the 19th Amendment. In January 1918, suffragists won an important victory as the House passed the women’s suffrage amendment. However, it fell two votes short in the Senate. Suffragists maintained a near-constant presence on Capitol Hill and turned to the 1918 midterm elections.
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1918
House passes the amendment
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1919
Congress passes the 19th Amendment
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1920
19th Amendment is ratified
Result
Passed by House, failed in Senate
1919
Ratification
Congress passes the 19th Amendment
Leading up to the 1919 vote on the women’s suffrage amendment, debate was lively. The amendment passed the House in a landslide in May 1919 and then went to the Senate. Two weeks later, suffragists packed the Senate’s balcony, and when the vote passed by a narrow margin, applause and celebrations deafened the chamber.
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1918
House passes the amendment
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1919
Congress passes the 19th Amendment
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1920
19th Amendment is ratified
Result
Passed by Congress, sent to the states for ratification
1919
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Draft — June 4, 1919
19th Amendment Final Text
Final
Ratification
19th Amendment is ratified
The ratification battle lasted 15 months. Many states, including Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, quickly approved the amendment, but progress halted in the spring of 1920. Tennessee considered the amendment in August—resulting in victory by a single vote. After ratification, women debated the future of the movement and how best to secure equality—including the right to vote—for all women.
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1918
House passes the amendment
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1919
Congress passes the 19th Amendment
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1920
19th Amendment is ratified
Result
Ratified by three-fourths of the states
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19th Amendment Final Text
The 19th Amendment transformed the Constitution—banning gender discrimination in voting. In 1919, the House approved the amendment in a landslide vote (304-89), followed by the Senate (56-25). Congress then sent it to the states for ratification.
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. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Select a document
19th Amendment Final Text
The 19th Amendment transformed the Constitution—banning gender discrimination in voting. In 1919, the House approved the amendment in a landslide vote (304-89), followed by the Senate (56-25). Congress then sent it to the states for ratification.
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. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
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19th Amendment Final Text
The 19th Amendment transformed the Constitution—banning gender discrimination in voting. In 1919, the House approved the amendment in a landslide vote (304-89), followed by the Senate (56-25). Congress then sent it to the states for ratification.
Select a document
Select a document to learn more about how it changed over time
Select a provision to learn more what’s changed
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. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.