Nineteenth Amendment Grants Women's Suffrage, Despite Southern Opposition
The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, granting women the right to vote, was passed by both houses of Congress and sent to the states for ratification despite opposition, particularly from Southern states. The amendment states that the right of citizens to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. For the amendment to be added to the Constitution, three-fourths of the states, or 36 states at the time, needed to ratify it. On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the amendment after a special session of its state legislature, thereby legally enfranchising approximately half of the U.S. population. While the ratification marked a significant milestone, it did not immediately ensure full enfranchisement for all women, as discriminatory state voting laws continued to prevent many from voting well into the 20th century. 
