Dakota Datebook: 100 Years of Women Voting

Prairie Public

A series about how the effort for women's suffrage roiled North Dakota for years, along with the rest of the country. The 19th Amendment finally became law in 1919, so it's a good time to look back at the characters, their arguments and actions, the defeats, close calls, and victories.

  1. 11/23/2020

    1919 Special Session Woes, Part 3

    When the Federal Suffrage Amendment passed in the U.S. House and Senate on June 4th, 1919, there were many calls in North Dakota for a special session so North Dakota could ratify the amendment. However, Nonpartisan League Governor Frazier did not want the expense of a special session just for the sake of suffrage.

    3 min

  2. 11/18/2020

    Women's Vote 1920

    On November 2, 1920, eligible men and women around the country were able to vote equally in the election for the first time. According to the census bureau, approximately 26 million women were now able to vote. However, there were still an estimated 1.5 million women considered ineligible.

    3 min

  3. 11/10/2020

    Militant Suffragists

    Suffragists Alice Paul and Lucy Burns learned about militant protest tactics from suffrage efforts in England. They felt such tactics could help in the United States, but the National American Woman Suffrage Association did not approve, so they founded a separate group, the National Woman’s Party, under Alice Paul’s leadership.

    3 min

  4. 11/02/2020

    Suffrage and Becoming a State

    North and South Dakota officially became states on this date in 1889, at a time when suffrage was a hot topic of conversation. The year began with suffragists requesting the right to vote at the territorial legislative session. In July, members of the constitutional convention met in Bismarck and discussed whether the right for women to vote should be written into the state constitution. Neither of these proved fully successful, but women were able to retain their right to vote for matters relating to schools.

    3 min

  5. 10/22/2020

    Suffrage Exposition Rally

    North Dakota’s 4th Annual Industrial Exposition took place in Bismarck in October 1914, and the city was bustling with activity. The Bismarck Tribune proudly exclaimed, “Never in the history of the state was there such an elaborate, … extensive, and … excellent display of the state’s products. … Not only is there quantity, but also a quality which is perfection itself, accompanied by beauty unsurpassed.”

    3 min

  6. 10/20/2020

    Jane Addams Visits North Dakota

    On this date in 1912, excitement grew as plans were made for Jane Addams to speak in the state.

    3 min

  7. 10/13/2020

    Suffragist Mrs. Antoinette Funk arrested in Minot

    In 1914, suffragists increasingly campaigned for the right to vote as the election on the matter approached. Speakers of some renown came to North Dakota — including Mrs. Antoinette Funk, a suffrage leader from Illinois. It was a visit that led to her arrest. The reason? She was speaking in the street without a permit.

    2 min

  8. 09/24/2020

    Suffrage at the Garrison Corn Show

    On this date in 1914, last minute preparations were underway in Garrison as participants set up for the Garrison Corn Show, which was organized by the Garrison Industrial Association. This was the second year of the show, and folks were preparing for the big get-together. The Bismarck Daily Tribune noted, “The merry clatter of carpenters’ hammers resounds at the new corn show building proclaiming the coming event as one of the most important in the history of Garrison. Never before has a community been aroused to active interest in agricultural affairs as that for many miles around Garrison, where the work of the Garrison Industrial Association in its campaign for more and better farmers, is reaching its height in getting ready for the second annual corn show.”

    3 min
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About

A series about how the effort for women's suffrage roiled North Dakota for years, along with the rest of the country. The 19th Amendment finally became law in 1919, so it's a good time to look back at the characters, their arguments and actions, the defeats, close calls, and victories.

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