19th Amendment

Women’s Right to Vote

Universal suffrage proposals first emerged during the Reconstruction era (1865-1877). Suffragists later modeled their proposal after the 15th Amendment (1870) and settled on language to end sex 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 on August 18, 1920.

Special thanks to Reva Siegel of Yale Law School for sharing her advice and research in “She the People: The Nineteenth Amendment, Sex Equality, Federalism, and the Family” and to Laura Free from Hobart and William Smith Colleges for reviewing this content.

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Jun 1840

1840

Event — June 12, 1840

World Anti-Slavery Convention »
Jul 1848

1848

Event — July 19, 1848

Seneca Falls Convention »
Apr 1861

1861

Event — April 12, 1861

Civil War begins »
Apr 1865

1865

Event — April 9, 1865

Civil War ends »
Dec 1865

1865

Event — December 6, 1865

13th Amendment is ratified »
Jul 1868

1868

Event — July 9, 1868

14th Amendment is ratified »
Feb 1870

1870

Event — February 3, 1870

15th Amendment is ratified »
Feb 1890

1890

Event — February 18, 1890

Two mainstream suffrage groups merge »
Jan 1911

1911

Event — January 1, 1911

National anti-suffrage group forms »
Jan 1917

1917

Event — January 10, 1917

Suffragists picket the White House »
Apr 1917

1917

Event — April 6, 1917

Congress declares war on Germany »
Nov 1917

1917

Event — November 6, 1917

New York grants women suffrage »
Jan 1918

1918

Event — January 10, 1918

House passes the amendment »
Jun 1919

1919

Draft — June 4, 1919

19th Amendment Final Text »
Aug 1920

1920

Event — August 18, 1920

19th Amendment is ratified »

Drafts

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