Women Suffrage - 90 years old. I should look so good

For almost a hundred years women tried to achieve the right to vote in the United States. From 1820 to 1920 fearless, tireless, and organized women took on stereotypes, humiliation and in some cases incarceration (500 were illegally arrested and 168 were jailed) on their quest to have their wants taken into account.


Unfortunately, there are people in the United States that don't know the term women suffrage. In fact, when asked (by The Man Show of all people), many people (men and women) were willing to sign a petition to end womens suffrage. Basically to repeal the 19th amendment which guarantees women the right to vote. These people unknowingly were ready to sign away our right to vote. Most had never heard of the term womens suffrage. Sad.

The first convention in support for a woman's right to vote was held in 1848 at Seneca Falls, New York. It took 72 more years before women were allowed to vote nationwide. Women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth and Carrie Chapman Catt worked tirelessly for the right to make their wants and needs known by Congress through the vote.

There were states that gave women the right to vote before 1920. Wyoming (1869), Utah (1870, repeals it in 1887, regains it in 1895) , and Idaho (1896) lead the way. Many states followed but not enough to ratify it.

Our rights seem so fragile at times. Sometimes I believe that we should all be reminded that there was a time when as women we would not have been afforded the same rights and citizenship as men.

August 26th is the 90th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment. I'd like to sincerely thank all those women of conviction for their hard work. Because of them I have a place and a voice at the polls.

Love,
M

PS: the postcards above were collected by the leading suffragette in Texas; Minnie Fisher Cunningham.