August 26
19th Amendment Certified for Women's Suffrage
Summary
The movement for women's voting rights in the United States gained momentum after decades of activism, with the amendment first proposed in Congress in 1878. After passage by Congress in 1919, ratification required approval by three-fourths of the states. Tennessee provided the decisive 36th ratification on August 18, 1920. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby certified the amendment on August 26, 1920, formally adding it to the Constitution. The new provision prohibited denial of voting rights on account of sex. Millions of American women gained the franchise overnight, fundamentally altering the electorate.
Why It Matters
Certification of the 19th Amendment doubled the potential voting population and marked a major expansion of democratic participation. It influenced subsequent civil rights legislation and set precedents for gender equality in American law and politics.
Related Sites
- America 250 Atlas: 19th Amendment Certified for Women's Suffrage is part of U.S. presidential, constitutional, or national civic history.
Explore More
Related Events
Sources
- 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Women's Right to Vote, U.S. National Archives. Accessed 2026-07-02.