100 years of women’s suffrage

June 5, 1919, 100 years ago this Wednesday, United States Congress passed the National Suffrage Amendment which eventually became the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting women the right to vote. On June 10th, 1919, 100 years ago next Monday, Michigan ratified the amendment. Michigan was one of the first three states in the nation to ratify the amendment on that day. The 19th Amendment became law August 26, 1920.

The Manchester Ladies Society will be planning a number of events and displays between now and August 26, 2020 in recognition of 100 years of women’s right to vote. They are hoping to involve all women interested in organizing and/or participating in this project and will be holding an organizational meeting in early September. If you are interested in participating or your organization is already planning to celebrate the 19th Amendment and would like to coordinate your efforts with the Ladies Society’s efforts, contact a Ladies Society member directly or email manchesterladiessociety@gmail.com. 

Ladies Society member Theresa Herron is coordinating Manchester celebrations with other celebrations in the county through the Washtenaw County Historical Society.

The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote nationally, but the story is not as cut and dried as that. Women could vote in Wyoming from their admittance as a state in 1890. Michigan amended the state constitution in 1918 to allow women to vote and women voted in state-wide elections here starting in 1919. Some African American women could vote after the 19th amendment, depending on where they lived, but some states used voting taxes, literacy tests, and violence to prevent voting. Native American women couldn’t vote until 1947 and Asian American women couldn’t vote until 1952. US citizens who live in Puerto Rico, including women, still can’t vote in national elections.

The story of women gaining the right to vote is a complicated one! Help the Ladies Society figure out how best to celebrate it.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.