The 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote, was narrowly ratified on August 18, 1920. The battle for women’s suffrage had taken many years and overcame many obstacles. We will cover the whole story, each session featuring a different lecturer.

Liz Tentarelli will present an overview of the suffrage movement, including the tactics used by various groups to publicize women’s demands, and the changing roles of women in society and the workforce that influenced public opinion.

Joanna Henderson will cover some courageous suffragists—the leaders of the movement and the members of women’s organizations who lobbied endlessly for women’s civil rights, from Susan B. Anthony to Alice Paul. Where did they agree, where did they differ, and what tactics did they use to achieve their end?

Brenda Watts will cover pioneering suffragists from minority groups who became activists within their constituencies for the right to vote as part of their overall push for social justice.

David Bashaw will cover women who stridently fought against women’s suffrage, including the many reasons from “simply unnecessary” to strong protestant feelings that women were destined to be child-bearers and homemakers.

John Ferries will cover the tortuous struggle to get the 19th Amendment ratified, including the raucous, cliff-hanging battle in Tennessee under a media frenzy to become the clinching 36th state.