March is Women's History Month
PUBLISHED: March 17, 2010
Women's History Month commemorates the many milestones reached and surpassed by ordinary and extraordinary women throughout our nation's history. Their stories and acts of courage are part of our nation's narrative and serve as a shining example to women today struggling to better their own lives and to make an impact on the world.
By celebrating Women's History Month we recognize all of the exceptional women who through their courage, and their commitment made an impact on their communities and the nation. And through the Winning Women Awards we honor the work of extraordinary women in the Illinois 8th Congressional District as they continue to make history.
We invite you to join us in celebrating Women's History Month by nominating a Winning Woman, and writing another chapter to the long history of women's leadership in our communities. Contact anna@melissabean.com for information.
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
When were women in the United States granted the right to vote?
The 19th Amendment to the Constitution granted women the right to vote it was ratified on August 26, 1920. The 19th Amendment 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. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this Article by appropriate legislation."
When did the women's suffrage movement begin?
The first Women's Rights Convention took place in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848. This event set in motion a national movement to grant women important social, civil and religious rights, including the right to vote.
Who were the leaders of the movement?
The early leaders and pioneers of the movement were Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, progressives and activists in the anti-slavery/civil rights movement. Elizabeth Cady Stanton using the Declaration of Independence as a guide created a Declaration of Principals that brought to light inequalities between men and women and made recommendations for change.
In 1869, suffragists formed two national organizations to work for the right to vote. The National Womens Suffrage Association and The American Women Suffrage Association. The National Womens Suffrage Association was led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, its primary goal was an amendment to the Constitution giving women the right to vote. The American Suffrage Association was led by Lucy Stone and her husband Henry Blackwell, its primary goal was to convince individual states to give women the right to vote.
In 1890 these two Associations united to form the National American Women Suffrage Association.
What is the Declaration of Principals?
The Declaration of the Seneca Falls Convention, using the model of the US Declaration of Independence, demanded that the rights of women as right-bearing individuals be acknowledged and respected by society.
MILESTONES
Women's History Timeline
1777
Abigail Smith Adams, wife of the second president, John Adams writes that women "will not hold ourselves bound by any laws which we have no voice
1833
Oberlin College in Ohio, is the first co-educational college in the US
1838
Mount Holyoke College is established in Massachusetts as the first college for women
1840
Lucretia Mott is one of several women delegates to attend the World's Anti-Slavery Convention in London. As a woman, she is forced to sit in the gallery and cannot participate
1848
The first Women's Rights Convention is held in Seneca Falls, NY
1849
Elizabeth Blackwell becomes the first woman to receive a medical degree in the US
1850
Women are granted the right to own land in a state (Oregon)
1866
The American Equal Rights Association is founded by Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Stanton, Martha Coffin Pelham Wright, and Ernstine Rose
1868
The 14th Amendment denying women the right to vote is ratified
1869
The National Woman Suffrage Association and the American Woman Suffrage Association are formed
1872
Victoria Claflin Woodhull becomes the first woman presidential candidate in the United States when she is nominated by the National Radical Reformers
1878
A Women's Suffrage Amendment is introduced to Congress for the first time
1879
Belva Ann Lockwood becomes the first woman admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court
1890
The NWSA and the AWSA unite to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association
1913
5,000 suffragists march in Washington, DC for the women's rights movement
1915
A petition with 500,000 signatures in support of a women's suffrage amendment is given to President Woodrow Wilson
1916
On November 6, 1916, Montana elected Jeanette Rankin, a Republican, as the first woman to the US Congress
1920
The 19th Amendment is ratified, allowing women the right to vote in federal elections
1931
The first woman elected to the Senate was Hattie Wyatt Caraway of Arkansas. Appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of her husband, U.S. Senator Thaddeus Caraway, Ms. Caraway then sought and won election on her own in 1932
1966
The National Organization for Women is founded by Betty Goldstein Friedan
1971
The US Supreme Court rule ends sex discrimination in hiring
1972
US Congress passes the Equal Employment Opportunity Act
1972
The Equal Rights Amendment passes Congress but fails to be ratified
1981
Sandra Day O'Connor becomes first woman appointed to the US Supreme Court
1990
Dr. Antonia Novello is sworn in as U.S. Surgeon General, becoming the first woman (and first Hispanic) to hold that job
1995
Lt. Col. Eileen Collins becomes the first American woman to pilot a space shuttle
1997
Madeleine K. Albright becomes the first woman US Secretary of State
2000
Hillary Rodham Clinton becomes the only First Lady ever to be elected to the US Senate
2005
Condoleezza Rice becomes the first African-American woman to be appointed US Secretary of State
2007
Nancy Pelosi becomes the first woman speaker of the House of Representatives
2008
Hillary Rodham Clinton becomes the only First Lady ever to run for president
LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE
Help celebrate National Women's History Month by participating in events hosted by organizations right here in the 8th district.
College of Lake County - Women's History Month 2010: Braving Adversity
The College of Lake County and its Women's Center are hosting several events to celebrate Women's History Month, including workshops and various performances throughout the month.
For more information please visit http://www.clcillinois.edu/community/womenscenter.asp or contact the Women's Center @ 847-543-2771
McHenry County College - Writing Women Back into History
Throughout the entire month of March, the College will offer a variety of educational events and entertainment to showcase women and address the critical challenges they're facing today. This year's program, Writing Women Back into History, will address the need to honor women's achievements on a local and a global scale.
For more information please visit http://www.mchenry.edu/women/ or contact Katherine Midday at 815-455-8735.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WOMEN'S HISTORY*
Women's History Month National Site http://womenshistorymonth.gov/index.html
Meet the First Ladies http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/
Women Who Changed History http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/women/index.htm
National Women's History Project http://nwhp.org/aboutnwhp/index.php
U.S Department of Labor, Statistics on Women Workers http://www.dol.gov/wb/stats/main.htm
