Woman suffrage

Woman suffrage, women's lawful right to vote. Under the U.S. Constitution, states initially gave voting rights to land-holding white men only. By 1830, although all states had abolished property requirements for white men, no state allowed women to vote. In the 19th century, as a result of changing social conditions and new ideas about equality, the movement for woman suffrage took shape; however, the efforts of such activists as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony were strongly opposed. The 15th Amendment, which gave the vote to black men, still did not grant voting rights to women. During the early 20th century, an extensive and highly organized campaign to win congressional support for woman suffrage began. By 1920 more than half the states had granted either full or partial voting rights to women. With the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, women in the United States were given full voting rights. Women in 27 countries were also granted voting rights during the period following World War I. In 1952 the United Nations Convention on the Voting Rights of Women resolved that all women be entitled to vote in all elections.

See also: Women's movements.