his Day In History August 26, 1920 19th Amendment guaranteeing women the right vote adopted

historychannel.com ^ | 8/26/05 | historychannel.com

[mainepatsfan]

This Day In History | General Interest

19TH AMENDMENT ADOPTED: August 26, 1920

The 19th Amendment, guaranteeing women the right to vote, is formally adopted into the U.S. Constitution by proclamation of Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby. The amendment was the culmination of more than 70 years of struggle by woman suffragists. Its two sections read simply: "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."

America's woman suffrage movement was founded in the mid 19th century by women who had become politically active through their work in the abolitionist and temperance movements. In July 1848, 200 woman suffragists, organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, met in Seneca Falls, New York, to discuss women's rights. After approving measures asserting the right of women to educational and employment opportunities, they passed a resolution that declared "it is the duty of the women of this country to secure to themselves their sacred right to the elective franchise." For proclaiming a women's right to vote, the Seneca Falls Convention was subjected to public ridicule, and some backers of women's rights withdrew their support. However, the resolution marked the beginning of the woman suffrage movement in America.

The first national woman's rights convention was held in 1850 and then repeated annually, providing an important focus for the growing woman suffrage movement. In the Reconstruction era, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was adopted, granting African American men the right to vote, but Congress declined to expand enfranchisement into the sphere of gender. In 1869, the National Woman Suffrage Association was founded by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton to push for a woman suffrage amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Another organization, the American Woman Suffrage Association, led by Lucy Stone, was formed in the same year to work through the state legislatures. In 1890, these two groups were united as the National American Woman Suffrage Association. That year, Wyoming became the first state to grant women the right to vote.

By the beginning of the 20th century, the role of women in American society was changing drastically: Women were working more, receiving a better education, bearing fewer children, and three more states (Colorado, Utah, and Idaho) had yielded to the demand for female enfranchisement. In 1916, the National Woman's Party (formed in 1913 at the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage) decided to adopt a more radical approach to woman suffrage. Instead of questionnaires and lobbying, its members picketed the White House, marched, and staged acts of civil disobedience.

[Izzy Dunne]

Bill Clinton is sooooooo grateful.

[Jacquerie]

A Constitutional amendment? You mean judges didn't find this right all by themselves?

[mtbopfuyn]

About time.

[newzjunkey]

An amendment is a novelty isn't it?

At the rate we're going, however, I have to say I'm with Ann Coulter. We'd be better off if this got repealed than live under the (increasing) tyranny of NOW and the open vagina brigades.

[tkathy]

I suspect Republicans passed the Amendment, and democrats fought against it.

[sonofatpatcher2]

Today is my birthday. My 58th.

I often wondered as a kid of 13 in 1960 what it would be like in the year 2,000. "Gad!" I thought," I'd be 53 then... Too old to do anything." Now I am five years past that and still feel in may ways like that kid I was some 40 years ago. I just have to go to the bathroom more often.

When I was bar hopping in the Disco Era of the 1970s, I always told young ladies I met that they should be grateful about my birthday, August 26th. It was a day all females should celebrate. Afterall, women got the right to vote under the 19th Amendment ratified in 1920.

Then some Johnny-Come-Lately would throw in, "Yeah, August 26th. Didn't Ford introduce the Edsel on that day in 1957?"

Yeah, that's true, but on this day in 1862, Fitz Lee's Cavalry rode into Manassas Junction and whipped the Yankees there to begin the 2nd Battle of Bull Run where my kinsman Bobbie Lee along with Stonewall Jackson bloodied Pope's nose again and again.

All in all, I'd say knocking the snott out of them damned Yankees and giving our better half the vote trumps Ford's Edsel Folly!

Take care and enjoy this day. I will and dream of making it to 59 next year...

[Finalapproach29er]

The genesis of America's pussification.

[Vaquero]

I told the wife about the Ann Coulter opinion on this.....and it didn't cut any ice with her.

[Casekirchen]

Ok, it took America 11 years to draft its Constitution (1776 - 1787) and a further 133 years to give women the vote.

Yet, Iraq is a failure because they haven't done the same thing in 11 months ....

[mainepatsfan]

The MSM just keeps moving the goal posts.

[Dashing Dasher]

I vote to wish you a ...

Happy Birthday!

[Hadean]

Happy birthday you sonofa... :?) Hope it's a great one!

[ikka]

Given this, it would appear that 60-80 years is the time between women getting the vote and the total destruction of integrity in government.

Switzerland gave women the vote in 1971, I think: so by about 2040 they too will be in a shambles .

[Echo Talon]

Its my brother-in-laws b-day too! he is 40 today! hehe! we are supposed to go fishing if it ever stops raining! :D Congratulations and have a happy b-day :)

[Izzy Dunne]

By the way, ALSO on this day: Aug. 26, 1903:
The St. Petersburg newspaper Znamya ("Banner") serializes a set of articles revealing the dual menace of the Freemasons and international Jewry. The series is just the first incarnation of what is later called the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion.

[sonofatpatcher2]

Thanks... But the million dollar checks were unnecessary. You two shouldn't have...

However, I have already cashed them.

[sonofatpatcher2]

Is you brother-in-law a handsome devil, too?

BTW are you ready for some football?

[Echo Talon]

Is you brother-in-law a handsome devil, too?

Now i wouldnt say all that... :D

BTW are you ready for some football?

YES!