The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted American women the right to vote, a right known as women’s suffrage, and was ratified on August 18, 1920, ending almost a century of protest. In 1848 the movement for women’s rights launched on a national level with the Seneca Falls Convention organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. Following the convention, the demand for the vote became a centerpiece of the women’s rights movement. Stanton and Mott, along with Susan B. Anthony and other activists, raised public awareness and lobbied the government to grant voting rights to women. After a lengthy battle, these groups finally emerged victorious with the passage of the 19th Amendment. HISTORY.COM EDITORS
The state of Delaware launched a website in 2020 to recognize the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment.
The website includes historical information about the women’s suffrage movement nationally and in Delaware, interactive quizzes, reading lists for people of all ages, and lesson plans for teachers. The site also features archival images of the women’s suffrage movement. Jackie Griffith, chair of the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Committee and director of government and community relations at Delaware State University said that the aim of the website was to connect the women’s suffrage movement to efforts to protect the right to vote today.
We hope that the resources will be used to empower the next generation of women leaders who will be committed to a modern and forward-thinking movement, building on the powerful foundation as set forth by the Suffragists,” she said.
The Delaware Women’s Suffrage Centennial Committee was created by the state legislature to organize events and exhibits to honor the suffrage centennial. The committee’s goals include celebrating the anniversary, educating people on the history of women’s suffrage, and recognizing the barriers to voting that persist today.
