Women gain right to vote 100 years ago today

TED Ed; CBSNews.com; Ellie Askew, Crystal Quintero (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Suffrage parade, NYCity, May 4, 1912: Women line up for parade, one in front leading with baby and carriage, dressed in white and wearing sashes that read, "Votes for women" carrying flags and banner (Library of Congress).

.

How shall we gain enlightenment? Prajnaparamita

The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing American women the right to vote, celebrates a big birthday today (June 4th), as it was passed by both chambers of Congress 100 years ago on June 4, 1919.

First, the House of Representatives passed the amendment on May 21, 1919; the Senate followed on June 4 with a vote of 56 to 25 (National Archives).

The next year, following approval by three-fourths of state legislatures, the amendment was ratified into the Constitution.

We can rise up: Goddess power! (Eos)

The opening of the Amendment's text reads, "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. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

Since the 19th Amendment's passage, women have helped inaugurate a new era of American politics.

In fact, many historians can point a clear line from the passage of the 19th amendment to the passage of Civil Rights legislation in the 1960s and the current movements seeking to offer greater federal protections for gay and transgender Americans. More