On November 5, 1872, American civil rights activist Susan B. Anthony voted in a presidential election. (She voted for the incumbent, Republican Ulysses S. Grant.) At that time, women were not allowed to vote. Two weeks later, Anthony was arrested, and eventually fined $100 for voting illegally. “I shall never pay a dollar of your unjust penalty,” she said—and she never did.
 
It was more than 40 years before the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote in the United States. On November 2, 1920, more than 8 million American women voted.
19th amendment
Noun

update to the U.S. Constitution allowing women citizens the right to vote.
civil rights
Plural Noun

set of fundamental freedoms guaranteed to all individuals, such as participation in the political system, ability to own property, and due process and equal protection under the law.
election
Noun

selection of people to public office by vote.
eventually
Adverb

at some point in the future.
penalty
Noun

punishment.

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    Editor

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    Last Updated

    March 10, 2021

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