A milestone occurred in the history of the United States on the 18th of August, 1920, when the 19th Amendment, which was to be ratified, was finally and finally ratified by Tennessee.
The amendment granted women of America the right to vote constitutionally, which was long overdue because it was decades of protests, marches, and sacrifices of suffragists. It not only signified a triumph of women, but also an enormous breakthrough towards American democracy because the right to voice political means had been extended to use by half of the American population. Nowadays, this day has become a significant date in the history of fighting for equality, and it is remembered as a lesson that the stronger the promise of democracy, the more voices are involved.
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Women`s Suffrage Long Struggle
The battle to give women the right to vote in the United States commenced way before the ratification of the 19th Amendment. It dates back to the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, whereby women such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott publicly petitioned and demanded equality, such as the right to freely cast a vote. It was the initial organized action that sowed the seed of the female suffragette in America.
Female leaders like Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, and Lucy Stone continued the struggle in the years following. They spoke out, held demonstrations, and were mocked and abused in their attempts to break out of traditional roles. Most of the suffragists were jailed because of protesting; however, they were not ready to quit. They doggedly continued the movement over decades of agonizing.
The movement picked up momentum in the late 19th-early 20th centuries when such national organizations as the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) were created. They laboured endlessly to mobilise the lawmakers, march, and gain the support of the populace. Among the most dramatic of all, there was the Women’s Suffrage Parade in 1913, Washington, D.C., a day before the inauguration of President Woodrow Wilson, and thousands of women took up a march. This incident attracted the nation to the cause.
World War I highlighted the injustice of the silent misuse of the vote, depriving women as well, through the contributions that they made in the war. Women also did their part as the men fought abroad; women would fill the factories, serve as nurses, and donate their part to the war. What was evident in their sacrifices was that women were equally devoted to the nation like the men and that they had every right to participate in the governance of the nation.
Climate of Politics before Ratification
As such, when Congress adopted the 19th Amendment in June of 1919, the United States was undergoing some serious social and political transformations. The country was fresh out of World War I, and the significant role played in the war effort ensured that the case to allow women to vote remained solid. A lot of Americans started viewing women not only as homemakers but also the nation builders.
Nevertheless, the ratification path was not easy. The amendment was opposed by anti-suffragist groups, which tried their best to prevent it across the country. Not only would granting women the right to vote ruin families, destabilize conservative principles, and shift society upside down, they argued. Certain business interests, such as the alcohol industry, did not favor women’s suffrage; this is because women were likely to have a say on the prohibition laws.
The ratification stipulated that 36 states needed to accept the ratification. The South (and some states generally) were hostile to the idea. The argument had been intense in most legislatures, with the politicians scattered into two groups. In the middle of 1920, the amendment had already passed in 35 states with only one more to go to become law. It was left to Tennessee, whose suffragists and anti-suffragists began energetic campaigns to sway lawmakers.
The Settling Vote of Tennessee
The attention was on Tennessee, the final state that could pass or not the 19th Amendment in the summer of 1920. The arguments made in the state assembly were emotional and hot. Both parties approached legislators, mounted demonstrations, and packed the galleries with sympathizers. The result was doubtful for several days. It took place eventually on August 18, 1920. Miraculously, to all, one last-minute legislator unseen to all, a young man called Harry T. Burn, reversed his stand and voted to approve suffrage.
The 19th Amendment was ratified with the approval constituting Tennessee, and it became part of the U.S. Constitution. The decision of the state became the forerunner to the name, which is colloquially referred to as the state of the perfect 36 in a state. This radical twist of events is recalled as one of the most significant ones in the history of American democracy.
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Effect, and Influence of the 19th Amendment
Approval of the 19th Amendment came as a milestone in the history of the United States. Women all over the United States secured the constitutional right to vote for the first time, and millions had an opportunity to influence the development of the country. The amendment empowered women by allowing them to be registered, campaign, and vote in an election, which gave them the hope that their voices could be heard during a democratic process.
But it was not entirely successful as far as all women are concerned. Numerous women of color, Indian women, and immigrant women continued to face the obstacles of discriminatory legislation, literacy tests, poll taxes, and threats of harassment at the polls. It would not be until decades later, with additional plight due to the Civil Rights Movement, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and a lifetime of activism to ensure that more women could exercise their right to vote freely.
Its history does not end in 1920 with the 19th Amendment. It transformed American democracy in terms of opening the gates of politics by allowing half of the American population to enter. In the course of time, women started to run elections and make some changes in elections, and lead with fresh ideas. The history of the 19th Amendment serves as a reminder to Americans that even today, the right to vote is not forever- it needs to be defended and extended. August 18, 1920, represents a representation of victory and duty.
