Ratification Day

Fourteen to Fourteen written by Mary DuBrow in 1920.⁷

After years of fighting what seemed to be an endless battle, finally, on August 18^th, 1920, the ratification of the 19^th amendment was passed, granting women the right to vote in all elections, including presidential elections. Author Mary DuBrow recounts the real events that occurred between politicians and the planning that occurred among the women trying to gauge the likelihood of the amendment passing. She writes about the tension and stress suffragists felt as they were waiting on each and every vote. She concludes with a lovely photo of her, Miss Betty Gram, and Senator Bloch, the final senator who is written as the “saver of the Suffrage Day”.

The suffrage movement was quite divided over the strategic process of how to go about their cause. Some advocated for peaceful conversations and protests while others argued that they must engage in radical activities in order to be heard. The divisions among the group are precisely why there were two separate women’s suffrage organizations, the American Woman Suffrage Association and the National Woman Suffrage Association, had to merge in order to compromise and move forward. Despite challenges such as divided tactics, strategies, arguments and radical activities, the suffrage movement gained momentum and support, and eventually, the tide began to turn in favor of women’s suffrage. The amendment was passed by Congress in 1919, with the hope of ratification from at least 36 states. Despite the efforts, there were still a few states that opposed women's suffrage and refused to ratify the amendment. However, it was still a monumental day in the history of feminism and the beginning of a shift in gender roles. To conclude, it took tireless efforts of suffragists and their supporters to overcome those who stood in their way and bring about the passage and ratification of the 19^th Amendment.