For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. – Ecclesiastes 3:1
On this day in 1919, Congress voted to approve the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, providing women the right to vote. The amendment was originally introduced to Congress in 1878 but was not passed. After decades of demonstrations, hunger strikes, and protests, women suffrage supporters gained the attention of President Woodrow Wilson, who voiced his public support for the movement in 1918. This caused Congress to resurrect the stalled amendment, quickly passing it through the House and the Senate on June 4, 1919. It was ratified by the required 36 states on August 18, 1920, and was fully adopted into the Constitution a week later. The 19th Amendment is now an essential part of the American voting system, allowing all citizens of the United States to participate in this democratic republic.
As the Lord leads, pray with us…
- For the president and his advisers as they pursue diversity and equity programs.
- For members of Congress as they assess the status of discrimination in the U.S.
