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Women's suffrage is the right of women to vote in elections.

Historically, women rarely had the right to vote, even in ostensibly democratic systems of government. This shifted in the late 19th century when women's suffrage was accomplished in Australia, then Europe, and then the Americas.

Key aspects of the women's suffrage movement in America:

The beginning: The U.S. women's suffrage movement is often traced to the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, where the "Declaration of Sentiments" was drafted, outlining grievances and demands for equality.

Activism and methods: Supporters used a variety of tactics, including writing, lecturing, and public demonstrations. The 1913 White House protest, for example, led to arrests and mistreatment of suffragettes during the "Night of Terror" in 1917.

The 19th Amendment: After a long fight, a suffrage amendment was passed by Congress in 1919. It was ratified by the necessary number of states in 1920, prohibiting states from denying the right to vote based on sex.
Continued struggles for equality: While the 19th Amendment was a major victory, discriminatory laws like poll taxes and literacy tests, along with racial discrimination, continued to prevent many women, particularly women of color, from voting. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 finally eliminated many of these barriers on a national level.

Global context: The movement was international, with many countries granting women the right to vote before the U.S., such as New Zealand (1893), Australia (1902), and Finland (1906). World War I also played a role in advancing suffrage in other countries.