History of the Passage of the 19th Amendment

History of the Passage
of the
19th Amendment
"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" and "Congress shall
have power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation."
PRESENTED BY THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS -- CHICAGO
NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN
SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION
1911
1913
The crowd watching was estimated at half a million people, with many
verbally harassing the marchers while police stood by. A Congressman later
remarked about the women’s parade, “They should have been at home
where they belonged.”(1913)
Unfortunately, neither political party supported women’s voting…. (1913).
Lucy Burns was chained to the cell
bars with her hands above her head,
and left that way all night.
According to affidavits other women
prisoners were beaten, kicked and
dragged….
1917
1917
Newspapers FINALLY
reported the treatment of
the suffragists as secret
notes about the situation
became public. The
national sympathy began
to be aroused and the
mood of the nation began
to change.
“The people think
that democracy
means that women
shall play their part
alongside men…”
1918
President T. Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the United States
EACH NEW STATE TO RATIFY THE 19TH
AMENDMENT GOT A STAR ON THE
BANNER.
1919--Both Houses of
Congress DID pass the
Susan B. Anthony
Amendment on the third
vote about it in less than
10 years.
Now the battle went to
the states to get enough
to ratify the Amendment.
They needed ¾ of the
states—36 in all.
Carrie Chapman Catt first
proposed a League of Women
Voters to work to end all
discrimination against women.
The League was founded in
Chicago on Valentine's Day,
1920, six months before the
ratification of the 19th
Amendment giving women the
right to vote.
The final approval for the 19th Amendment came in
Tennessee. Women celebrated all over the nation. The
banner was unfurled in Washington, DC.
On August 26, 1920
144 years after the
Declaration of
Independence,
Women finally
achieved the right
to vote when the
last needed state
approved the 19th
Amendment..
Jane Addams (1860-1935)
A compassionate social
worker who helped develop
a wide variety of programs
to improve the lives of
thousands of immigrants.
Carrie Chapman Catt
(1859-1947)
The extremely able
President of the
National American
Women’s Suffrage
Association that
became the
League of
Women Voters!
Ida Wells Barnett
(1862-1931)
She not only fought
lynching of African
Americans but also
fought discrimination
against women.
These pioneers not only
impacted the lives of
women, they changed the
lives of all Americans.
WHO WE ARE....


The League is nonpartisan. We do
not support or oppose candidates.
We provide support- local, state
and national - educating
policymakers and the general
public on pressing issues and we
take concerted action to bring
about positive change.
WHO WE ARE....
We support or oppose issues and
legislation after careful member study and
agreement.
We mobilize people to vote and to make
their opinions known in the complex
decisions that affect us all.
The League of Women Voters is a
nonpartisan, political organization that:
 encourages informed and active
participation in government
 works to increase understanding of
major public policy issues
 influences public policy through
education and advocacy
THE LEAGUE’S STRUCTURE ENABLES ALL
MEMBERS TO BE COMMUNITY LEADERS WITH
LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL IMPACT
National
League
Voting Rights
Local
Leagues
Election Reform
Individual
Member
Judicial independence
State
Leagues
Transportation
Open Meetings
Because of our reputation for
fairness and objectivity, the League
of Women Voters is often called on
to convene community forums on
issues of local concern.
Today, we are a grassroots
organization of:
•140,000
supporters and
more than
•800 Leagues
throughout all
•50 states.
We are also celebrating the tremendous
strides we’ve made for voting rights and
other critical issues in America.
JOIN US IN
MAKING
DEMOCRACY
WORK!
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
OF CHICAGO
332 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 525
Chicago, IL 60604
312-939-5949
League@LWVChicago.org
www.LWVChicago.org
Source: NASA satellite image of Chicago