When did Women Get the Right to Vote in US?

The right of women to vote in the United States was a hard-fought battle spanning decades. Known as women’s suffrage, this movement was pivotal in securing women’s participation in the democratic process.

Women gained the right to vote in the United States on August 26, 1920, with the passage of the 19th Amendment [Voting Rights for Women | The Right to Vote | Elections | Classroom Materials at the Library of Congress]

Early Activism and the 19th Amendment

• 1848: The Seneca Falls Convention marks a key point in organized activism for women’s rights, including suffrage.
• Late 1800s: Women gain voting rights in some Western states, but not nationally.
• 1910s: Suffragettes like Alice Paul employed more assertive tactics, including protests and hunger strikes.
• 1920: The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified, stating, “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.“

19th Amendment

After decades of struggle, the women’s suffrage movement achieved a nationwide victory. In 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, stating, “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.“

Note: It’s important to remember that the 19th Amendment didn’t guarantee voting rights for all women. Discriminatory laws continued to disenfranchise women of color, particularly in the South. It wasn’t until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that legal barriers preventing many women of color from voting were finally removed.

Why It Matters

As legal scholar Reva Siegel notes, “Women’s suffrage was a transformative moment in American democracy.” It broadened political participation and representation for half the population. The fight for women’s suffrage highlights ongoing efforts to ensure truly equal voting rights for all.

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