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Did you know that Montana was the first state to elect a woman to Congress in 1917? The right for women to vote was passed by only two senate votes in 1920? In 1960, white women earned 60 cents for every dollar earned by men—a decline since the 1950s—and that women of color earn 42 cents for every dollar? Learn about American women’s struggles and triumphs in the timeline below.
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1777 |
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All states pass laws that forbid women to vote. |
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1848 |
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The first women’s rights convention takes place in Seneca Falls, New York. Participants sign a Declaration of Sentiments that call for equal treatment and voting rights for women. |
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1851 |
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Sojourner Truth gives her famous “Ain’t I a woman?” speech. |
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1855 |
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In Missouri v. Celia, a black woman named Celia is declared to be property of her slave master, without any right to defend herself from rape. |
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1860 |
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Connecticut becomes the first state to prohibit all abortions after the American Medical Association announces its opposition to abortion. |
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Elizabeth Cady Stanton, seated,
and Susan B. Anthony
Margaret Sanger
Jeannette Rankin
Machine gun factory, WWII
Shirley Chisholm
The first Ms. cover
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1866 |
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Congress passes the 14th Amendment, which grants all citizens the right to vote. It is the first time that “citizens” and “voters” are defined as “male” in the Constitution. |
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1869 |
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Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton form the National Woman Suffrage Association, while Lucy Stone and others form the American Woman Suffrage Association. The territory of Wyoming passes the first women’s suffrage law in the U.S. |
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1896 |
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The National Association of Colored Women is formed out of more than 100 black women’s clubs. |
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1916 |
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Margaret Sanger opens the first American birth control clinic in Brooklyn, NY. Within ten days, the clinic is shut down and Sanger is arrested. She eventually wins legal support and opens another clinic in 1923. |
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1917 |
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Jeannette Rankin of Montana is the first woman to be elected to Congress. |
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1920 |
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Congress passes the 19th Amendment, granting women suffrage. It passes in the Senate by only two votes. |
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1923 |
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Alice Paul drafts the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). |
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1936 |
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A federal law is modified, making birth control information no longer classified as obscene. |
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1945 |
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Millions of working women lose their jobs when servicemen return from World War II, although surveys show that 80 percent want to continue working. |
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1955 |
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The Daughters of Bilitis is formed, the first lesbian social and political organization in the U.S. |
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1960 |
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The Food and Drug Administration approve birth control pills.
White women earn 60 cents for every dollar earned by men, a decline since the 1950s. Women of color earn 42 cents for every dollar.
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1964 |
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Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race and sex.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is established to investigate discrimination complaints.
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1966 |
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The National Organization for Women (NOW) is founded. |
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1968 |
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The EEOC rules that sex-segregated help wanted ads are illegal, a ruling later upheld by the Supreme Court.
Shirley Chisholm is the first black woman elected to Congress.
The National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) is founded.
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1969 |
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California is the first state to adopt a “no fault” divorce law, allowing couples to divorce by mutual consent. By 1985, all U.S. states have adopted similar laws. |
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1972 |
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The ERA is passed by Congress and sent to states for ratification.
Title IX bans sex discrimination in schools.
The Supreme Court rules that the right to privacy includes an unmarried person’s right to use contraceptives.
Ms. Magazine is first published.
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1973 |
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In Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court legalizes abortion and overturns anti-abortion laws in many states. |
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1974 |
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The Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits discrimination in consumer credits practices. |
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1976 |
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The first marital rape law passes in Nebraska, making it illegal for a husband to rape his wife.
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act passes, banning employment discrimination against pregnant women.
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1977 |
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The National Women’s Conference takes place in Houston, TX. |
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1978 |
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More women than men are entering college for the first time in American history. |
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1981 |
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Sandra Day O’Conner is the first woman ever appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Ruth Bader Ginsberg joins her in 1993. |
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1982 |
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ERA ratification efforts fail. |
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1984 |
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EMILY’s (Early Money is Like Yester) List is created as a financial network for women running for national political office. |
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1986 |
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The Supreme Court rules that sexual harassment is a form of illegal job discrimination. |
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1990 |
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The number of black women in elective office has increased to 1,950 from 131 in 1970. |
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1993 |
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The Family and Medical Leave Act goes into effect, allowing women workers to take employment leave after giving birth. |
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1994 |
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The Violence Against Women act increases services for rape and domestic violence victims, as well as federal penalties for sex offenders.
Shannon Faulkner is the first woman to attend classes at the Citadel, an all-male military academy in South Carolina.
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2004 |
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More then one million Americans rally for women’s rights in Washington, DC at the March for Women’s Lives. |
Photo credits:
Women Revolution NOW: logo by Kjersti Graphics
Suffragettes: Library of Congress
Machine gun factory in WWII (1942): Library of Congress
Shirley Chisholm campaigning for president
Photo courtesy Arlie Scott
2004 March for Women’s Lives Planned Parenthood placard
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