Today marks the 90th anniversary of women’s suffrage, and as I reflect on this day one cannot help but think that without the work of our predecessors, the successful women entrepreneurs, politicians and leaders of today would not have a platform to impact our world. On this occasion, it only seems fitting to take a look back on the women who paved the way for our women-owned business, A. Bright Idea to become a possibility and a success.
The road to women’s suffrage was not an easy one, it began long before the Civil War, and took decades of hard work and negotiating before it was achieved. The following are some of the noteworthy events that led to women gaining the right to vote:
- The Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 was the first true attempt in pursing women’s suffrage.
- The 15th amendment granted African-American men the right to vote. Prominent women’s leaders such as Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and others refused to endorse the 15th amendment because it neglected to grant women the right to vote.
- Stanton and Anthony created The National Woman Suffrage Association to work for suffrage on the federal level as well as the granting of property rights to married women.
- Lucy Stone created the American Woman Suffrage Association, which focused on securing women’s suffrage through state legislation.
- In 1890, the two groups united to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). When Wyoming entered the Union, it became the first state to grant general women’s suffrage.
- In 1915, Carrie Chapman Catt became the president of NAWSA, and Alice Paul organized the National Woman’s Party, which used tactics such as mass marches and hunger strikes.
- It was due to the perseverance demonstrated by these women that led to the eventual success of the movement when women gained the right to vote on August 26, 1920.
Without our rich history of women trailblazers who fought for their beliefs and independence it would be impossible for women to be such an integral and important part of society, business and the political world. I look at successful women who have broken the glass ceiling such as Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice, and this just further proves to me that there are no limits to what women can achieve.
The women in history who fought for suffrage are the foundation for inspiration of women today. So on this 90th anniversary, let’s celebrate these groundbreaking history makers of the past. Their actions continue to pave the way for women owned companies like A. Bright Idea, female entrepreneurs and leaders.
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