The WVCI logo, designed in collaboration with Fallon Worldwide of Minneapolis, is inspired by the Statue of Liberty’s torch, symbolizing a beacon of freedom and democracy. It embodies the legacy of suffragists and second-wave feminists who carried torch replicas, asserting their quest for equality as a continuation of core American principles. The logo seeks to bridge the struggle for equality across all generations of American women.
The torch represents a beacon of hope and a generational passing of the mantle in the fight for women’s equality. Drawing on the imagery of the Statue of Liberty, the modern torch design underscores the ongoing nature of the struggle for voting rights, with its connecting dots possibly symbolizing the continuum of the suffrage movement or the solidarity among activists.
Suffrage, derived from the Latin “suffragium,” meaning a voting tablet or vote, signifies the right to vote in the United States. Specifically, woman suffrage refers to the enfranchisement of women.
The quest for women’s voting rights was first articulated in the Declaration of Sentiments, authored by Elizabeth Cady Stanton during the 1848 Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, NY. An amendment proposing women’s suffrage was introduced to Congress in 1878, culminating in the 1920 ratification of the 19th Amendment.
The 19th Amendment was officially ratified on August 26, 1920, following Tennessee’s ratification on August 18, 1920, and the subsequent certification by Secretary of State Colby. This date is now commemorated as Women’s Equality Day.
The 19th Amendment explicitly prohibited the denial of the right to vote based on sex, marking a pivotal moment in American history by granting women the right to vote.
Women’s Equality Day, observed on August 26th, celebrates the ratification of the 19th Amendment and reflects on the ongoing struggle for gender equality in the United States.
Adding an amendment to the U.S. Constitution involves a two-step process: Congressional passage with a two-thirds majority in both houses, followed by ratification by three-quarters of the states. The President does not play a formal role in this process.
“Suffragists” refers to individuals advocating for women’s right to vote, primarily in the United States, while “suffragettes” were members of militant women’s organizations in the early 20th century Britain, fighting for the same cause.
The movement for women’s suffrage in the United States began with the Declaration of Sentiments at the 1848 Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, NY, spearheaded by Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
Before 1920, women in fifteen states, mainly in the western U.S., had full voting rights, highlighting the diverse landscape of women’s suffrage in America before the national ratification of the 19th Amendment.
The first women to vote under the 19th Amendment did so in a special election in South St. Paul, Minnesota, on August 27, 1920, although the specific identity of the first woman voter remains uncertain.
Wisconsin holds the distinction of being the first state to ratify the 19th Amendment on June 10, 1919, with its ratification paperwork being the first to be officially received in Washington, D.C.
The 19th Amendment’s ratification process concluded with Tennessee’s approval on August 18, 1920, but it officially became law on August 26, 1920, following certification by the U.S. Secretary of State.
While the 19th Amendment extended voting rights to women, it did not eliminate all barriers to voting, particularly for women of color, highlighting the amendment’s complex legacy.
Contrary to some historical accounts, African American women did not march at the back of the 1913 suffrage parade. Instead, they participated alongside various state and organizational delegations, exemplifying the diverse support for women’s suffrage.
The suffrage movement adopted various colors to symbolize their cause, with white and gold becoming prominent in the later years of the movement, linking it to visual messaging and the broader fight for women’s rights.