Women Almost Gained Right to Vote 90 Years Ago

Hard to believe for many people now, but it was just 90 years ago today that the 19th Amendment was approved by Congress, paving the way for women to vote.

The fight was long and hard. And it wasn't over. It would be another 14 months before the three-fourths of states ratified the amendment, making it law.

Disagreement on whether the best strategy was to pursue enfranchisement through a federal amendment or by individual state campaigns had divided the women's suffrage movement in 1869, according to the Library of Congress' account. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony worked for a federal amendment under the banner of the National Woman Suffrage Association, while Lucy Stone led the American Woman Suffrage Association's state-by-state battle for the vote.

In 1890, the two groups united to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association. NAWSA combined both techniques. A series of well-orchestrated state campaigns took place under the dynamic direction of Carrie Chapman Catt, while the new National Woman's Party, led by Alice Paul, used more militant tactics to obtain a federal amendment.

Still the ultimate vote was more divided than you might expect. On June 4, 1919, Congress, by joint resolution, approved the woman's suffrage amendment and sent it to the states for ratification. The House of Representatives had voted 304-89 and the Senate 56-25 in favor of the amendment.

It took a war to help get the thing passed.

Women's active participation in the war effort during World War I and their broadening role in society highlighted the injustice of their political powerlessness. On Aug. 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified.