Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Susan B. Anthony (pictured), Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucy Stone joined together in 1890 to push for suffrage for women by attempting to vote and file lawsuits. Anthony actually voted in 1872 but was arrested, tried and found guilty of voting, thus gaining publicity and notoriety.
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, marked 100 years since the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It states, "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."
Article Five of the U.S. Constitution stated that in order for the 19th Amendment to become part of the Constitution, the amendment had be ratified by either – as determined by Congress – the legislatures of three-quarters of the states or state ratifying conventions in three-quarters of the states.
The Western Nebraska Observer reported the news on Aug. 26 and Sept. 2 1920. The headlines on Thursday, Aug. 26, 1920, read, "Fight For Votes is Won by Women" and "Thirty-Six States Have Ratified Amendment."
The story in the Observer said, "American women have won their fight for votes. Washington and Tennessee have ratified the constitutional amendment, making 36 states out of 48. Amendment defeated by six states between September 12, 1919, and February 17, 1920, as follows in the order named: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland."
Ironically, Mississippi did not ratify the 19th Amendment until 1984, 64 years after the amendment was ratified.
The Sept 2, 1920, Observer explained the details of the official signing of the amendment, which came about a week later: "The crowning glory for the women of America, who led the bitter struggle for suffrage came at 8 o'clock a.m., August 26 when Secretary of State Colby signed the proclamation officially announcing ratification of the 19th amendment to the constitution.
"The quiet manner in which Mr. Colby acted was a disappointment to some suffrage workers who had hoped to make a ceremony of his act, but they contended themselves with their own jubilation ceremonies, including a mass meeting at night. They united in statements that nothing now can be done to prevent the women from voting in November."
Women had begun to organize for women's rights and women's suffrage in the 1840s. In 1848, the Seneca Falls Convention, and in 1850, the National Women's Rights Convention, both made suffrage a top priority.
Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucy Stone joined together in 1890 to push for suffrage for women by attempting to vote and file lawsuits. Anthony actually voted in 1872 but was arrested, tried and found guilty of voting, thus gaining publicity and notoriety.
By 1875, the Supreme Court ruled against the women's suffrage movement and therefore the amendment movement began in earnest because it was believed that it was the only way to obtain voting rights for women.
Throughout the 1800s and early 1900s, women organized, lectured, marched, petitioned and picketed to win the right to vote. The 19th Amendment was a lengthy and difficult struggle, but in the 1920 U.S. presidential election 26 million American women were enfranchised.
