Female Enfranchisement

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“Mr. President, on August 26, 1920, women in the United States, regardless of State laws to the contrary, were given the right to vote. This struggle for equality was long and sometimes bitter.

There were some who believed that women were too high, too pure, to engage in the rough and tumble work of politics. There were some who believed that women had not the education or talent for casting a ballot. But there were also those men and women who believed that woman voting was the necessary responsibility and privilege of living in a democracy and all women, as well as all men, should have that right.

Certain States granted women the franchise, but this was usually done only after grueling referenda campaigns to change the State Constitution. More campaigns were lost than were won, but they educated the voters by showing that women did want to vote.

The justice of votes for women demanded that it become part of our Constitution. For such a foundation of democratic society deserves to be proclaimed as such in our Constitution.

Women had worked for a long time for a constitutional amendment. While the women were working in their States, others, like Susan B. Anthony—for whom the 19^th amendment is named—worked a lifetime for amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

On August 26, we should remember all those men and women who believed that women must take full responsibility for their citizenship. We should remember all those men and women who worked so that women might become citizens in a truly great democracy.”

Senator Margaret Chase Smith
Congressional Record
August 25, 1961