Special Report
100 Years of Women at the Ballot Box
On August 18, 1920—a full century ago—the 19th Amendment was ratified by Tennessee's legislature. But that date marks neither the beginning nor the end of the struggle for suffrage. The movement to secure the vote for women took a long, thorny path that extends until today; it's a trail dotted with factional disagreements, prioritization of the needs of the white and wealthy, disappointments and hard-won victories, occasional scandal, unexpected alliances and perseverance. In this collection of stories, you can learn about this complex history and the women who propelled it.
How Geraldine Ferraro's 1984 Campaign Broke the Vice-Presidential Glass Ceiling
The charismatic congresswoman from Queens forged a path for women in American politics
Fannie Lou Hamer's Dauntless Fight for Black Americans' Right to Vote
The activist did not learn about her right to vote until she was 44, but once she did, she vigorously fought for black voting rights
How Women Vote: Separating Myth From Reality
Suffragists said women voting would transform politics. Here’s how women have wielded the ballot in the past century, according to a political scientist
After 1920, the Fight to Vote Continued
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The Bittersweet Story of Puerto Rican Suffrage
Puertorriqueñas' fight for suffrage shaped by class, colonialism and racism—but even today, island residents cannot vote for president
The Long Fight for Suffrage
Why Women Bring Their ‘I Voted’ Stickers to Susan B. Anthony’s Grave
This year, visitors will find a clear plastic covering protecting the fragile marble headstone
Radical Protests Propelled the Suffrage Movement. Here’s How a New Museum Captures That History
Located on the site of a former prison, the Lucy Burns Museum shines a light on the horrific treatment endured by the jailed suffragists
What Raising the Age of Sexual Consent Taught Women About the Vote
Before many women could vote in the United States, they lobbied male legislators to change statutory rape laws and gained political skills in the process
In 1872, Susan B. Anthony Was Arrested for Voting ‘Unlawfully’
President Donald Trump posthumously pardoned the pioneering activist on the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage
What 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage Looks Like Through the Eyes of 100 Women Artists
A new book fills its pages with an illustrated, intersectional exploration of the past century
How the American West Led the Way for Women in Politics
Western territories and states were the first to expand voting rights for women
How the 19th Amendment Complicated the Status and Role of Women in Hawai’i
For generations, women played a central role in government and leadership. Then, the United States came along
What Made Lucretia Mott One of the Fiercest Opponents of Slavery and Sexism
Her humble Quaker upbringing taught her how to stand up for her beliefs
The Thorny Road to the 19th Amendment
Historian Ellen Carol DuBois chronicles the twists and turns of the nearly 75-year-path to securing the vote for women in her new book
How Women Got the Vote Is a Far More Complex Story Than the History Textbooks Reveal
An immersive story about the bold and diverse women who helped secure the right to vote is on view at the National Portrait Gallery
The Long Battle for Women’s Suffrage
With the centennial anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment approaching, a look back at the surprising history of giving women the vote
The Bold Accomplishments of Women of Color Need to Be a Bigger Part of Suffrage History
An upcoming Smithsonian exhibition, “Votes For Women,” delves into the complexities and biases of the nature of persistence
How Midwestern Suffragists Won the Vote by Attacking Immigrants
Women fighting for the ballot were vocal about believing that German men were less worthy of citizenship than themselves
How Tennessee Became the Final Battleground in the Fight for Suffrage
One hundred years later, the campaign for the women’s vote has many potent similarities to the politics of today
Only One Woman Who Was at the Seneca Falls Women’s Rights Convention Lived to See Women Win the Vote
Charlotte Woodward Pierce was a teenager at the Seneca Falls convention for women’s rights. She was 91 when women finally went to vote in 1920
What Happened Next
To Make Native Votes Count, Janine Windy Boy Sued the Government
‘Windy Boy v. Big Horn County’ helped ensure the Crow and Northern Cheyenne were represented, but the long struggle for Native voting rights continues
For Generations, Black Women Have Envisioned a Better, Fairer American Politics
A new book details the 200-plus years of trenchant activism, from anti-slavery in the earliest days of the U.S. to 21st-century voting rights
Why the First Monument of Real Women in Central Park Matters—and Why It’s Controversial
Today, New York City welcomed a public artwork honoring three suffragists. But some scholars argue that the statue obscures more than it celebrates
Women Senators Reflect on the 100th Anniversary of Suffrage
Twenty-four lawmakers shared testimonials with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History
What the First Women Voters Experienced When Registering for the 1920 Election
The process varied by state, with some making accommodations for the new voting bloc and others creating additional obstacles
Mary McLeod Bethune Was at the Vanguard of More Than 50 Years of Black Progress
Winning the vote for women was a mighty struggle. Securing full liberation for women of color was no less daunting
The True Story of ‘Mrs. America’
In the new miniseries, feminist history, dramatic storytelling and an all-star-cast bring the Equal Rights Amendment back into the spotlight
Why the Equal Rights Amendment Is Still Not Part of the Constitution
A brief history of the long battle to pass what would now be the 28th Amendment
Kimberly Teehee Will Be the Cherokee Nation’s First Delegate to Congress
The nomination, promised in an 1835 treaty, is still pending as of July 2020
The Voting Machine That Displayed Different Ballots Based on Your Sex
In an era of partial suffrage, these inventions helped women cast their votes
What Schools Teach About Women’s History Leaves a Lot to Be Desired
A recent study broke down each state’s educational standards to see whose ‘herstory’ was missing
The Suffragist Statue Trapped in a Broom Closet for 75 Years
The Portrait Monument was a testament to women’s struggle for the vote that remained hidden till 1997
The History of the Town Hall Debate
Its origins go back to America’s earliest days, but its appearance on the national stage is relatively new
Women Ruled the Floor When the GOP First Came to Cleveland
The 1924 Convention was the first to feature female delegates, and they made their presence known
‘Unbought and Unbossed’: When a Black Woman Ran for the White House
The congresswoman tried to win the White House by consolidating the Black vote and the women’s vote, but she ran into trouble