Suffrage in the West

Public domain.

Until the passage of the 19th Amendment, state elections were held to decide if women should have the right to vote.  In 1869, the territory of Wyoming became the first to grant women the right to vote.  When Wyoming became a state, in 1890, the decision was upheld.  Colorado was next in 1893 and in 1896 both Utah and Idaho passed suffrage laws.  However, it would not be until 1910 that another state would let women vote, when Washington passed the law followed by California in 1911.  

Miss Jeannette Rankin, of Montana, speaking from the balcony of the National American Woman Suffrage Association.

Monday, April 2, 1917

Library of Congress

This image shows the western states that had granted women the right to vote.

Library of Congress

Photograph of unidentified woman putting up billboard with bucket and broom. Billboard reads: "'Women of Colorado, you have the vote. Get it for women of the nation by voting against Woodrow Wilson and the Democratic Candidate for Congress. Their party opposes national woman suffrage. The National Woman's Party." Billboard features image of young woman and a hat with "The Woman's Party" feather and a "50-50" price tag, above which is the motto "Our Hat's in the Ring."

Library of Congress

 Map of the United States showing tour of Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage. Image of Alice Paul in lower left-hand corner. Captioned "Call to Women Voters to Assemble in Chicago June 5, 6, 7 to Launch A National Woman's Party."

Library of Congress