Florida and the 19th Amendment

Picture of state of Florida in gray – indicating it was not one of the original 36 states to ratify the 19th Amendment. CC0
Picture of state of Florida in gray – indicating it was not one of the original 36 states to ratify the 19th Amendment. CC0

Women fought for the right to vote since the mid-1800s. They marched, protested, lobbied, and even went to jail. By the 1870s, women pressured Congress to vote on an amendment that would give them suffrage rights. This amendment became known as the 19th Amendment.

After decades of arguments for and against women's suffrage, Congress finally voted in favor of the 19th Amendment in 1919. This is called ratification. After Congress ratified the 19th Amendment, at least 36 states needed to vote in favor of it for it to become law.

State flag of Florida, CC0.
State flag of Florida, CC0.

Florida representatives did not vote on the amendment at all in the early 1900s. Many politicians and newspapers in the state were against women's suffrage. But by August of 1920, 36 states ratified the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote - even in Florida.

On May 13, 1969, Florida showed its support for women’s suffrage by ratifying the 19th Amendment.

Tags: Florida Florida history women woman Women history women’s history Women’s Rights Women’s Suffrage womens history suffrage Suffrage Movement 19th amendment