International Woman Suffrage Highlights
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Though the United States was one of the early adopters of woman suffrage, it was by no means the first country to do so. Beginning in the 1700s many societies began to agitate for women’s rights, including the right to vote. When won, these were often local exceptions to the rule of patriarchy, and nationwide examples of woman suffrage do not emerge until the late 19th century. The first nations to grant woman suffrage were nearly all in Europe, or in places dominated by European colonialism.
1893
New Zealand is the first nation in the world to enshrine universal woman suffrage.
1902
Australia enfranchises white women, but denies aboriginal women the vote until 1962.
1906
The Grand Duchy of Finland declares independence from the Russian Empire and grants universal suffrage.
1913
Norway grants universal woman suffrage after men are awarded suffrage in 1898.
1915
Denmark and its colony of Iceland adopt universal woman suffrage.
1917
The Baltic nation of Estonia grants universal suffrage after the conclusion of the first Russian Civil War.
1917
The Baltic nation of Latvia grants universal suffrage after the conclusion of the first Russian Civil War.
1917
The Baltic nation of Lithuania grants universal suffrage after the conclusion of the first Russian Civil War.
1917
The Belarusian People’s Republic grants universal suffrage after the conclusion of the first Russian Civil War.
1917
Ukraine grants universal suffrage after the conclusion of the first Russian Civil War.
1917
The short-lived Russian Republic grants universal suffrage after the conclusion of the first Russian Civil War.
1917
Uruguay becomes the first nation in the Americas to grant universal suffrage.
1918
Austria adopts universal suffrage.
1918
Germany adopts universal suffrage.
1918
Poland adopts universal suffrage.
1918
Azerbaijan adopts universal suffrage.
1918
The new Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic adopts universal suffrage.
1918
The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic adopts universal suffrage.
1918
Hungary adopts woman suffrage to women over 24.
1918
United Kingdom (including Ireland) adopts woman suffrage to women over 30.
1918
Canada grants racially limited suffrage until it adopts fully universal suffrage in 1960.
1919
The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic enshrines universal suffrage into law.
1919
The First Republic of Armenia adopts universal suffrage.
1919
Belgium enshrines universal suffrage into law.
1919
The Democratic Republic of Georgia passes universal suffrage.
1919
The Isle of Man adopts universal suffrage.
1919
Czechoslovakia enshrines universal suffrage.
1919
The Netherlands adopts universal suffrage.
1919
Luxembourg passes universal suffrage into law.
1919
Sweden adopts universal suffrage.
1920
The United States of America ratifies the 19th amendment granting woman suffrage. Native American women would be denied citizenship and voting rights until 1924, and many women of Asian heritage won’t have full access to those rights until 1943.
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Voting Rights in the United States