Chicago woman suffrage

The Land of Lincoln then became the first state east of the Mississippi River that allowed women to vote in the presidential election. Illinois later became among the first state to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment, which passed in but was not ratified by a requisite number of states until August 18, Photos, unless otherwise noted, appear courtesy of the Chicago History Museum. Click here if you are interested in obtaining a copy of any of the museum's images included in the slideshow.

With the passage of this law, Illinois became the first state east of the Mississippi to give women the right to vote. The legislation granted Illinois women the vote in federal and municipal elections not otherwise restricted in the Illinois constitution to men, and this included presidential electors. This meant that in , Illinois women were effectively voting for President. Illinois activists—and their important victory in —helped propel the national movement toward the ultimate goal: a federal amendment granting full suffrage to women which was attained in Additional sources: research files for the anniversary and other materials, housed at the Evanston History Center.

This post was first written for and distributed by the League of Women Voters of Illinois. More League history can be found here. You are commenting using your WordPress. The 19th amendment, giving women the right to vote, passed in and in August of that year, a Chicago suffrage group paraded through Chicago urging women to register to vote in their first election. League of Women Voters members are, left to right, Mrs. McGraw, Mrs. Payson, Mrs.

Charles S. Eaton, Mrs. Bemis, Mrs. Schweizer, Mrs. Ten women, including, from left seated , League President Mrs. Maud Wood Park, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt. Jacob Bertha Baur casts her vote during a presidential primary. Borrowing the tactics of the radical, militant Women's Social and Political Union WSPU in England, members of the Woman's Party participate in hunger strikes, picket the White House, and engage in other forms of civil disobedience to publicize the suffrage cause.

Catt's plan required the coordination of activities by a vast cadre of suffrage workers in both state and local associations. House of Representatives. August 26, The Nineteenth Amendment is ratified. It has never been ratified. Sources: William H. Zophy, Angela Howard and Frances M. Kavenik, eds. Handbook of American Women's History. Explore This Park. Info Alerts Maps Calendar. Alerts In Effect Dismiss. Dismiss View all alerts.