Petition from Minnie Fisher Cunningham of the Texas Woman Suffrage Association for passage of the “Susan B. Anthony Amendment” sent to Congress on May 2, 1916 The amendment passed Congress on June 4, 1919. It was ratified as the 19th Amendment on August 18, 1920. Petition from Texas Woman Suffrage Association, 5/2/1916, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives (ARC 306659)
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Petition from Minnie Fisher Cunningham of the Texas Woman Suffrage Association for passage of the “Susan B. Anthony Amendment” sent to Congress on May 2, 1916

The amendment passed Congress on June 4, 1919. It was ratified as the 19th Amendment on August 18, 1920.

Petition from Texas Woman Suffrage Association, 5/2/1916, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives (ARC 306659)

As the question of Suffrage is now agitating the public mind, it is the hour for Woman to make her demand. Form Letter from E. Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucy Stone Asking Friends to Send Petitions for Woman Suffrage to their Representatives in Congress, 12/26/1865, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives (ARC 306686)
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As the question of Suffrage is now agitating the public mind, it is the hour for Woman to make her demand.

Form Letter from E. Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucy Stone Asking Friends to Send Petitions for Woman Suffrage to their Representatives in Congress, 12/26/1865, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives (ARC 306686)

On December 11, 1917, Alice Wadsworth, President of the National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage, sent this petition to Congress arguing against a constitutional amendment that would grant women the right to vote. Mrs. Wadsworth argued that, “It would be an official endorsement of nagging as national policy.” Despite opposition such as this, Congress passed a joint resolution proposing the 19th Amendment in June of 1919. The 19th Amendment was ratified by the states on August 18, 1920.

Memorial of Alice Wadsworth of the National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage, 12/11/1917, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives (ARC 595295)

On June 4, 1919, the suffrage amendment passed both houses of Congress and was sent to the states for ratification. Initial efforts to secure the right to vote for women in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s achieved some success at the state level, but women’s organizations finally concluded that an amendment to the U.S. Constitution was essential for woman suffrage. World War I played an important role in helping women achieve the right to vote as many women began to work outside the home to support the war effort. In 1917 President Woodrow Wilson called for a Constitutional amendment, and though the House passed a woman suffrage amendment in 1918, it failed in the Senate, largely because of the opposition from southern states. After the amendment passed Congress in 1919, many states quickly approved it, and on August 18, 1920 Tennessee became the 36th state to approve the amendment. Two weeks later, on August 26, Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed the certification that the required number of states had ratified the Nineteenth Amendment. However, in early 1920, five states rejected the amendment. Mississippi was among them. Political cartoonist Clifford K. Berryman portrays the Mississippi rejection as an April Fool’s joke played on the suffrage movement. April First by Clifford K. Berryman, 4/1/1920, U.S. Senate Collection (ARC 6011595) 
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On June 4, 1919, the suffrage amendment passed both houses of Congress and was sent to the states for ratification. Initial efforts to secure the right to vote for women in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s achieved some success at the state level, but women’s organizations finally concluded that an amendment to the U.S. Constitution was essential for woman suffrage. World War I played an important role in helping women achieve the right to vote as many women began to work outside the home to support the war effort. In 1917 President Woodrow Wilson called for a Constitutional amendment, and though the House passed a woman suffrage amendment in 1918, it failed in the Senate, largely because of the opposition from southern states. After the amendment passed Congress in 1919, many states quickly approved it, and on August 18, 1920 Tennessee became the 36th state to approve the amendment. Two weeks later, on August 26, Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed the certification that the required number of states had ratified the Nineteenth Amendment. However, in early 1920, five states rejected the amendment. Mississippi was among them. Political cartoonist Clifford K. Berryman portrays the Mississippi rejection as an April Fool’s joke played on the suffrage movement.

April First by Clifford K. Berryman, 4/1/1920, U.S. Senate Collection (ARC 6011595) 

On May 19, 1919 House Joint Resolution 1 was introduced. The resolution proposed a Constitutional amendment extending the right to vote to women. The resolution was passed in the House on May 21, and in the Senate on June 4. Once the proposed amendment passed Congress, it was sent to states for ratification. On August 26, 1920 the amendment was ratified and became part of the U.S. Constitution. House Joint Resolution 1, 5/19/1919, HR 66A-B6, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives (ARC 1633885)
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On May 19, 1919 House Joint Resolution 1 was introduced. The resolution proposed a Constitutional amendment extending the right to vote to women. The resolution was passed in the House on May 21, and in the Senate on June 4. Once the proposed amendment passed Congress, it was sent to states for ratification. On August 26, 1920 the amendment was ratified and became part of the U.S. Constitution.

House Joint Resolution 1, 5/19/1919, HR 66A-B6, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives (ARC 1633885)

On January 22, 1874, the U.S. House of Representatives referred this petition to the Judiciary Committee on behalf of Susan B. Anthony. Anthony was petitioning Congress for the remission of a fine imposed for voting illegally in the 1873 federal election. While both chambers of Congress considered remitting or reducing the fine, they ultimately decided not to take action as it was still illegal for women to vote in federal elections in the United States. To see more documents relating to woman suffrage, visit our Image Gallery.

First and last pages of a petition from Susan B. Anthony, 1/12/1874, HR43A-D1, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives (ARC 306559)