100th Anniversary of Women Getting the Right to Vote

Today marks the 100th anniversary of women getting the right to vote in the United States, which was a major breakthrough in the extension of constitutional rights to an ever growing number of Americans, although never all Americans, equally.  

Still, we should celebrate when there were some huge victories. Women obtaining the right to vote had not come easily or quickly. Yet, it had come, and it obviously had a profound impact on the country. How could it be otherwise? After all, women encompass half of the population. Hell, slightly more than half, even, which means that they form a majority.  

The United States came fairly early on the list of nations where women got the right to vote, although it was by no means the first. In fact, women had been given the right to vote, at least on a limited basis, numerous times all across the world before. The first recorded instance, according to Wikipedia, happened in 1689 in Friesland. In the 18th century, women were given some voting powers in Sweden and Corsica. Even New Jersey gave women the right to vote in 1776, although it would eventually be rescinded.  

Hawaii, before it became an American state, back when it was still a kingdom, granted women the right to vote in 1840. Little by little, more places all around the world gave women the right to vote in the 19th century, including some parts of Australia and Canada. Then, in 1893, New Zealand became the first modern nation in which all women were given the right to vote in parliamentary elections, although they remained barred from standing for elected office until more than a quarter of a century later.  

Back here in the United States, the state of Washington became the first where women could vote, in 1910. California followed the next year, and then more and more states came on board with the idea. Finally in 1920, Tennessee became the latest state to do so, and this was the one that finally allowed the 19th amendment, which granted women the right to vote, to become the law of the land.  

And it happened 100 years ago today.