By 1912 several states had passed legislation granting women the right to vote. For other states, like New Jersey, the battle had just begun. Campaigning on both sides came to a head when a special election was called for October 19, 1915. In this instance, the antis came out on top with an overwhelming victory.
Trenton Evening Times October 20, 1915
Postcard altering the gender of Uncle Sam during the suffrage movement. Courtesy of Palczewski, Catherine H. Postcard Archive. University of Northern Iowa. Cedar Falls, IA.
Despite this setback, the suffrage movement continued to gain support across the nation. In 1916, New York extended the vote to include women, inspiring President Woodrow Wilson to publicly endorse women’s suffrage. Many believe his personal views on the subject did not change, but rather he relented to the pressure of public opinion.
It would take another three years to finally see results at a national level. On June 4, 1919, the 19th Amendment was passed, guaranteeing women in the United States the right to vote in local, state, and federal elections. Ratified on August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment saw the debate on women’s suffrage come to a close.