The Liberty Party first called for universal suffrage and the abolition of slavery in the 1840s. The Seneca Falls Convention took another step towards securing equal voting rights with the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions. While several states slowly granted women the right to vote, President Woodrow Wilson advocated for a constitutional amendment that would grant women universal suffrage.  

After a lengthy battle for women’s rights, the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified on August 18, 1920, granting suffrage to women. Nearly 10 million American women voted in the national elections that year. The Nineteenth Amendment was the fulfillment of our country’s devotion to self-government, a promise at the core of our Founding. You can discover more about the women’s suffrage movement and other significant events in our nation’s history by reading the “Moments in American History” booklet.  

Sincerely,