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Oregon Secretary of State Archives Division

History & Context


The history of the struggle for woman suffrage in the United States is one of slowly overcoming powerful forces that protected male privilege for centuries in nearly every aspect of life—politics, legal affairs, economics, and more. The path was filled with obstacles and there were numerous dead-ends, particularly for women of color. But suffrage leaders were nothing if not persistent. They poured countless hours into organizing, writing, lecturing, marching, and other activities to turn public opinion in their favor. These pages explore the factors and challenges related to winning the right to vote.

Asian American Suffrage

Latinx Suffrage

Jewish American Woman Suffrage

African American Woman’s Club Movement

Mobilizing the African American Community

Indigenous Suffrage and Access

Indigenous Voting Rights in Oregon

Hierarchy and Coverture

Mass Media and the Colors of the Cause

Coalitions and Related Movements

Oregon Initiative and Referendum System

Arguments in 1912 For and Against Woman Suffrage

Literacy Test as Described in 1930 Oregon Code

Cartoon of woman heading out to vote and husband sitting in chair with 2 children.
A postcard lampoons the women’s movement by portraying a woman seemingly more interested in voting than in looking after the wellbeing of her family. Opposition to woman suffrage was fierce among traditional groups. Many feared that voting would distract women from their “domestic duties” or create family dissension. Others were concerned that women were not capable of voting responsibly or would be corrupted by the process. Some worried that women would form a solid party and outvote men. And, many men—raised and accustomed to dictating events in the political sphere—simply saw no reason to give up any power to women without a fight. (Courtesy of Oregon Historical Society)


Asian American Suffrage