Today in Herstory: Wyoming Brings Woman Suffrage Back to America!

Today in Herstory: Wyoming Brings Woman Suffrage Back to America!


The Rollins House in Cheyenne, where the Wyoming Territorial Legislature meets. It recently approved not only woman suffrage, but equal pay for male and female teachers, as well as property rights for married women.


December 10, 1869: Woman suffrage has returned to America! For the first time since 1807, when the New Jersey Legislature revoked the right of that State’s unmarried and property-owning women to vote, there is now a part of the United States where any woman – regardless of her marital or economic status – can now legally cast a ballot: The Territory of Wyoming!

Established by Congress on July 25th of last year from land that was formerly part of Dakota, Utah and Idaho Territories, Wyoming has now become the first of what will certainly be many more victories in the battle for woman suffrage. The suffrage bill was introduced into the Territorial Legislature by William H. Bright, a South Pass saloon owner, whose wife, Julia, is an enthusiastic suffragist.


The measure was approved by the Council (equivalent to the Senate) 6-2. The House passed it 7-4 with one abstention. Following passage by the all-Democratic legislature, Republican Governor John A. Campbell signed the bill today, while women kept vigil outside his office until he did so. This unique and landmark legislation reads:
A BILL TO GRANT THE WOMEN OF WYOMING TERRITORY THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE, AND TO HOLD OFFICE.
Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of Wyoming:

SECTION 1. That every women of the age of twenty-one years, residing in this territory, may, at every election to be holden under the laws thereof, cast her vote. And her rights to the elective franchise and to hold office shall be the same under the election laws of this territory, as those of electors.

SECTION 2: This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

Approved, December 10, 1869.
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http://feminist.org/blog/index.php/2014/12/10/today-in-herstory-wyoming-brings-woman-suffrage-back-to-america/