1776-2024

Unique, Kayselen, Zenahb, Nakayla

1700’s
March 31, 1776

Abigail Adams, the wife of John Adams wrote a letter to plea for Women to be in
the Law.
 July 4,1776

Declaration of Independence
The American Declaration said “all men are created
equal,” but it didn’t include women. However, the
revolution made people think more about fairness and
equality.
1777 – U.S. states take away women's right to vote.

U.S. states made laws that took away women's right to vote. This
meant women couldn't take part in elections and their opinions
were not heard. Back then, only men were seen as citizens with
the right to vote.
1787 – The U.S. Constitution is written, excluding women from
voting rights.

The U.S. Constitution was written, but it did not grant women
the right to vote. The document only recognized men as
citizens with voting rights, leaving women out of the political
process. This exclusion reflected the belief at the time that
women should not participate in elections or have a role in
government.
1791 – Mary Wollstonecraft publishes A Vindication of the
Rights of Woman, advocating for women's equality.

Mary Wollstonecraft published A Vindication of the Rights of

Woman, a book that argued for women's equality in society,
education, and relationships. Wollstonecraft called for women to
have the same opportunities as men, particularly in education,
believing that women were not naturally inferior but only seemed
so due to a lack of education. This work is considered one of the
earliest and most important feminist texts, helping to spark the
conversation about women's rights.
1792 – Judith Sargent Murray publishes On the Equality of the
Sexes, arguing that women deserve the same opportunities as
men.

Judith Sargent Murray published On the Equality of the

Sexes, where she argued that women should have the
same rights and opportunities as men. She believed that
women were just as capable as men in areas like reason
and intellect. Her ideas were groundbreaking at the time
and became an important early voice in the fight for
women's equality.
1799 – Napoleon Bonaparte rises to power in France and begins
to suppress women’s rights in his territories.

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power in France and began

implementing laws that restricted women's rights in the territories
he controlled. Under Napoleon’s Civil Code, women lost many of
the legal freedoms they had previously enjoyed. For example,
women could no longer manage their own property without their
husband's consent, and their rights in marriage were limited,
reinforcing male dominance in family life.
1800
1809: Mary Kies became the first woman to get a patent for her
straw and silk weaving method.

Mary Kies made history as the first woman to receive a

patent for her innovative method of weaving straw with silk.
This invention was important because it allowed her to create
durable, lightweight materials for hats. Kies' patent helped
open doors for women in the field of invention, showing that
women could make significant contributions to industry and
innovation.
1839: Mississippi becomes the first state to allow women to hold
property in their names, but only with their husband's consent.

Mississippi became the first state to allow women to hold property in

their names. However, this law only applied if the woman had her
husband's permission. While this was a step forward for women's
rights, it still reflected the limited control women had over their own
lives and property at the time.
1848 – The Seneca Falls Convention is held in New York, the first
organized effort for women's suffrage in the U.S.

The first women-led women’s rights convention, the Seneca Falls

Convention, takes place in New York. With 300 attendees,
including organizers Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott,
the event resulted in 68 women and 32 men, including Frederick
Douglass, signing the Declaration of Sentiments. This landmark
moment ignites decades of activism, ultimately leading to the
19th Amendment, which grants women the right to vote.
1869 – Arabella Mansfield becomes the first woman lawyer in the
U.S.

Arabella Mansfield became the first woman to practice law in

the U.S. after being admitted to the Iowa bar. She broke
gender barriers and proved that women were just as
capable as men in legal fields. This achievement helped
pave the way for more women to pursue careers in law,
even though many faced obstacles during that time.
1873 – The Supreme Court rules that married women can be
excluded from practicing law.

the Supreme Court ruled that married women could be excluded

from practicing law, reinforcing gender inequality in legal
professions. This decision reflected the social norms of the time,
which often limited married women's rights and opportunities.
The ruling was a setback for women's progress in the law field,
but it also highlighted the need for legal reforms to grant women
equal rights.
1878 – The first Equal Rights Amendment is
introduced in Congress by Alice Paul.

Alice Paul introduced the first Equal Rights Amendment

(ERA) in Congress. The amendment sought to
guarantee equal rights under Alice Paul introduced the
first Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in Congress. The
amendment sought to guarantee equal rights under the
law, regardless of sex. This was an important step
toward achieving gender equality, although the
amendment would not be passed until much later.the
law, regardless of sexual activity. This was an important
step toward achieving gender equality, although the
amendment would not be passed until much later.
1890 – Wyoming becomes the first state to grant women the right
to vote.

Wyoming became the first state to grant women the

right to vote. This was a major milestone in the
women's suffrage movement, showing progress in
securing voting rights for women. Wyoming's decision
to grant suffrage helped pave the way for other states
to follow suit in the years to come.
1893 – New Zealand grants women the right to vote,
becoming the first self-governing country to do so.

New Zealand became the first self-governing country to grant

women the right to vote. This groundbreaking decision marked a
significant achievement in the global fight for women's suffrage. It
set an example that encouraged other countries to follow in
recognizing women's rights to participate in elections.
 1896 – Ida B. Wells leads a campaign against lynching,
highlighting racial violence and discrimination against African
American women.

Ida B. Wells led a powerful campaign against

lynching, particularly focusing on the racial violence
and discrimination faced by African American
women. Her work brought national attention to the
systemic injustice and helped lay the foundation for
civil rights activism.
1899 – Marie Curie becomes the first woman to win a Nobel Prize,
highlighting women’s contributions to science.

Marie Curie became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.

She was recognized for her groundbreaking work in the field
of science, specifically in the study of radioactivity. Her
achievement not only advanced scientific knowledge but also
helped demonstrate the important contributions women could
make to scientific discovery.
1900-1999
 1903: Women’s Trade Union League

In 1903, the Women's Trade Union League (WTUL) was started to help working
women and fight for better work conditions. It worked to bring women together to
demand things like shorter hours and better pay. The WTUL helped improve the
rights of women in the workplace.
1910: First National Women’s Day

In 1910, the first National Women’s Day was celebrated to honor women’s rights.
It was planned by a group of women in Copenhagen. The day was about fighting
for equal rights, like the right to vote.
1913: The Woman Suffrage Procession

The Woman Suffrage Procession of 1913 was a march in Washington, D.C.,

where women asked for the right to vote. Thousands of women joined, and it
helped more people support women's voting rights. The march was an important
step toward the 19th Amendment.
1916: Margaret Sanger

In 1916, Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in Brooklyn, New
York. She wanted women to have the right to control when they have children. Her
work helped start Planned Parenthood.
1923: Equal Right Amendment

In 1923, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was first introduced to Congress. It
aimed to ensure that men and women would have equal rights under the law.
Although it was not passed at that time, it became an important part of the fight for
gender equality in the U.S.
 1973: Roe v. Wade decision in the U.S

In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court made abortion legal. It said women could
choose to have an abortion in the early months of pregnancy. This was an
important win for women's rights.
1992 – The Year of the Woman sees a record number of women
elected to Congress.
a record number of women were elected to Congress. This increase in female
representation was driven by frustration over issues like sexual harassment, and it
was sparked by the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee Clarence
Thomas. The wave of women elected that year made a significant impact on U.S.
politics and helped open doors for future female candidates.
1993: Violence against women's Act (Vawa)

In 1993, the U.S. passed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to protect
women from abuse and violence. The law gave money to help victims and
improve support services. It was an important step in fighting violence against
women.
1994 – The Violence Against Women Act is signed into law,
providing support for victims of gender-based violence.
the Violence Against Women Act was signed into law. This
important legislation provided resources for victims of
gender-based violence and helped create a framework for
support services, including shelters and legal assistance. The law
played a key role in addressing domestic violence, sexual
assault, and stalking, bringing attention to the need for protection
and justice for women.
1997 – Madeleine Albright becomes the first female U.S.
Secretary of State.

Madeleine Albright became the first female U.S. Secretary of State. Her
appointment marked a historic moment in U.S. politics, as she became the
highest-ranking woman in the U.S. government at the time. Albright’s leadership in
diplomacy set the stage for future women in global leadership roles.
2000's
2004 : Oprah Winfrey becomes the first Black woman to become a
billionaire in 2004.

Oprah Winfrey became the first Black woman billionaire. She gained this success
through her popular talk show and other projects like satellite radio and producing
Broadway shows. Oprah used her work to inspire and connect with people around
the world.
 2005 : Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is a Liberian politician

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected as the president of Liberia, becoming the first
female head of state in Africa. She served as president from 2006 to 2018. Sirleaf
worked on rebuilding Liberia after years of civil war and became a symbol of
progress for women in politics.
 2007 : Nancy Pelosi becomes the first female Speaker of the
U.S. House of Representatives

Nancy Pelosi becomes the first female Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Pelosi made history as the first woman to hold a powerful position in U.S. politics,
breaking gender barriers in the political world
2010 : The United Nations General Assembly created UN
Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the
Empowerment of Women.

The United Nations created UN Women to promote gender equality and empower
women around the world. This organization works to improve women’s rights in
areas like leadership, education, and safety. It also supports global efforts to end
violence against women and promote equal opportunities.
2013 : #BlackLivesMatter was founded by Alicia Garza,
Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi.

Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi founded #BlackLivesMatter. The
movement began as a response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the
shooting of Trayvon Martin. It focuses on fighting racism and violence against
Black communities, especially addressing police brutality and inequality.
 2015 : Women’s Rights in the U.S.: The Fight for Equal Pay

The fight for equal pay for women continued to be a

major issue in the United States. Women still earned
less than men for doing the same jobs, despite
progress in laws like the Equal Pay Act. Activists and
organizations pushed for stronger enforcement and
new policies to close the wage gap.
2016 – Hillary Clinton becomes the first woman nominated for
President by a major political party.

Hillary Rodham Clinton secures the Democratic presidential nomination, becoming

the first U.S. woman to lead the ticket of a major party. She loses to Republican
Donald Trump in the fall.
 2017: Catherine Cortez Masto becomes the first Latina
senator.

Catherine Cortez Masto became the first Latina elected to the

U.S. Senate. Representing Nevada, she broke barriers and
brought greater representation for the Latino community in
American politics. Her leadership has focused on issues like
healthcare, immigration, and climate change.
2020: Kamala Harris becomes the first woman elected vice
president.
Kamala Harris made history as the first woman, first Black
woman, and first South Asian woman to be elected vice
president of the United States. Her election was a significant
step forward for representation in the nation's highest offices.
She continues to inspire future generations of women and
minorities.
2022: The Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, the landmark
case that established a right to an abortion nearly 50 years
earlier.

The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending nearly 50 years of federally
protected abortion rights. The decision shifted the power to regulate abortion back
to individual states, sparking widespread protests and debates over reproductive
rights across the country.
The End