Women's Suffrage and the 19th Amendment: 1913 to 1920

The Path to Women's Suffrage and the 19th Amendment: 1913 to 1920

By 1913, 9 states had granted women full voting rights. In March 1913, the first Washington DC women's march happened led by Lucy Burns and Alice Paul. The march was met with intimidation tactics and police stood idle as the marchers were threatened. The march was held one day before President Wilson's inauguration and so with many visiting, visitors saw the women's march and it had an impact on people's perception. In June 1913, a Senate Committee convened and presented a report to the Senate, recommending the passage of the 19th Amendment.

In 1914, WWI began and caused the movement towards the 19th Amendment to be postponed. During the war, women played a more active role than in any previous war. As men traveled overseas, women were required to support the war effort by working in factories and producing the required products for the war. This would have a lasting impact on society.

In 1918, near the end of WWI, Woodrow Wilson approached the Senate and requested that they pass the 19th Amendment. A year later, in 1919, the Senate passed the 19th Amendment. All that was left was for 36 out of the 48 states to ratify the Amendment.

On August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment was passed as it was ratified by the 36th state, Tennessee.

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