Women's Suffrage

For a long time, only men were allowed to vote in most countries. Women wanted the same right. The fight for women's voting rights is called suffrage. Brave women marched, gave speeches, and even went to jail. They worked hard for many years to win.

The Long Fight

The fight for women's suffrage started in the 1800s. Leaders like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton gave powerful speeches. They held big meetings and marches. Many people thought women should not vote, so it was a hard fight.

A portrait of a powerful woman who led people long ago.
A portrait of a powerful woman who led people long ago. (Unknown authorUnknown author / Wikimedia Commons)

Winning the Vote

In 1920, American women won the right to vote. This was called the 19th Amendment. Other countries gave women the vote at different times. New Zealand was the first country in 1893. Today, women vote in almost every country.

Fun Facts

  • Susan B. Anthony was arrested for voting illegally in 1872.
  • Suffragists often wore white, purple, and gold to show their cause.
  • Wyoming was the first U.S. state to let women vote, way back in 1869.

Did You Know?

Saudi Arabia did not let women vote until 2015, making it one of the last countries to do so.