June 17, 1873

Susan B. Anthony went on trial (United States v. Susan B. Anthony) on this date in 1873 in Canandaigua, N.Y. for casting her ballot in a federal election in Rochester N.Y. the previous November, in violation of statutes barring women from voting. One biography claims, “The presiding judge opposed women’s suffrage and wrote his decision before the trial even had started.”

Other dates late in the timeline of votes for women, from Scholastic.com:

“June 4, 1919: The Senate passes the 19th Amendment with just two votes to spare, 56 to 25. Drafted by Susan B. Anthony and first introduced in 1878 with the same wording, it is now sent to the states for ratification.

February 14, 1920: The League of Women Voters is founded as “a mighty experiment” at the Victory Convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association in Chicago, Illinois. By now, 33 states have ratified the suffrage amendment, but final victory is still three states away.

August 18, 1920: Tennessee becomes the 36th state to ratify the Amendment. A young state legislator casts the deciding vote after being admonished to do so by his mother*.

August 26, 1920: The 19th Amendment is quietly signed into law by Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby, granting women the right to vote.”

* Note: Likely the legislator’s dad didn’t dispute the issue. Happy Fathers’ Day to all dads reading this! ~ Amanda