As the 19th Amendment turns 100, My Start Story celebrates the efforts and achievements of 15 women who helped make the suffragists’ dream a reality. From the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 to the victorious adoption of the 19th Amendment in 1920, our timeline presents the long road of the suffragist movement and the incredible women behind it.
1848
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
The first women's rights convention is held in Seneca Falls, New York. It is organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton .
1851
Sojourner Truth
The Ohio women's right convention is held in Akron. Sojourner Truth delivers her now-famous"Ain't I a Woman?" speech.
1861
Harriet Tubman
The Civil War begins and the women's right movement grinds to a halt. After becoming the first woman to lead slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman works as a spy and soldier for the Union Army.
1869
Susan B. Anthony
The National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) is founded by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
1893
Fannie B. Williams
The National League of Colored Women is founded. Among its organizers is Fannie B. Williams.
1896
Mary Church Terrell
The National Association of Colored Women (NACW) is formed to help advance equality for African American women. Mary Church Terrell becomes its first president.
1905
Mary Talbert
The first meeting of what would later become the Niagara Movement, the precursor to the NAACP, is secretly held at the home of Mary Burnett Talbert in Buffalo, New York.
1912
Mabel Lee
Sixteen-year old Chinese immigrant Mabel Lee leads a New York pro-suffrage parade on horseback.
1913
Ida B. Wells
The Alpha Suffrage Club, one of the first African American women's suffrage organizations, is established in Chicago. Its founder is Ida B. Wells.
1913
Lucy Burns
The Congressional Union for Women's Suffrage later known as the National Woman's Party, is founded as an auxiliary of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. It is co-founded by Lucy Burns and Alice Paul.
1913
Jane Addams
Illinois becomes one of a handful of states to grant women a limited vote, passing the Illinois Equal Suffrage Act. Among the chief lobbyists are Jane Addams and Ruth Hanna McCormick.
1913
Ruth Hanna McCormick
Illinois becomes one of a handful of states to grant women a limited vote, passing the Illinois Equal Suffrage Act. Among the chief lobbyists are Jane Addams and Ruth Hanna McCormick.
1914
Adelina Otero-Warren
The Congressional Union for Women Suffrage expands its campaign to Hispanics. Adelina Otero-Warren becomes the first Mexican American state leader of the CU in New Mexico.
1916
Jeannette Rankin
The first woman is elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Jeannette Rankin of Montana makes history.
1917
Alice Paul
The National Woman's Party begins picketing the White House. The protests are led by NWA co-founder Alice Paul.