Timeline of women's suffrage in Colorado facts for kids

This is a timeline of women's suffrage in Colorado. Women's suffrage means the right for women to vote. In Colorado, efforts to give women the right to vote started in the late 1860s.

During the meeting to create Colorado's state constitution, women won a small victory. They were allowed to vote in school board elections. In 1877, the first public vote, called a referendum, on women's suffrage failed. But in 1893, another referendum was successful!

After winning the right to vote in Colorado, women continued to work for a federal amendment. This amendment would give all women across the United States the right to vote. While most women could vote, Native Americans living on reservations in Colorado couldn't vote until 1970.

The Fight for the Vote in the 1800s

Early Efforts in the 1860s

Rehearsing with Garden of the Gods at Colorado Springs

1868

• John Evans and D. M. Richards worked to include women's voting rights. They brought the idea to the state's early government.

Key Years in the 1870s

1870

• January 3: The governor of the territory, Edward M. McCook, spoke to the government. He said he supported women getting the right to vote.

1876

• January 10: A meeting about women's voting rights was held in Denver.
• February 15: People at the state's Constitutional Convention heard ideas about women's suffrage. The idea was voted down, 24 to 8. But the constitution allowed for future public votes on the issue.

1877

• February 15: The Woman Suffrage Association held its yearly meeting.
• August 15: A large meeting took place in Denver to plan a women's suffrage campaign.
• September 11: Susan B. Anthony, a famous women's rights leader, arrived in Granada. She gave a speech about women's right to vote.
• October 1: Another big meeting was held in Denver. Speakers included Lucy Stone and Margaret W. Campbell.

1879

• A newspaper for women's rights, The Colorado Antelope, was started. It was founded by Caroline Nichols Churchill.

Progress in the 1880s

1881

• The Colorado Equal Association was formed.
• A bill to let women vote in city elections failed in the state's main government body.

The Big Win in the 1890s

1891

• The state's main government received a petition asking for women's voting rights.

1893

• January 24: A bill for women's suffrage moved forward in the state government. It went to the state House of Representatives.
• March 8: The women's suffrage bill was voted on again in the House. It passed with 34 votes for and 27 against.
• April 3: The bill then passed in the state Senate, 20 to 10.
• September 4: Carrie Chapman Catt, another important suffrage leader, came to Colorado. She gave speeches and helped organize groups.
• November 7: The public vote on women's suffrage happened. Supporters of women's voting rights won! Women in Colorado gained the right to vote in all elections.

The Fight Continues in the 1900s

Working for National Rights in the 1910s

1914

• The Congressional Union opened its main office in Denver. This group worked for a national voting rights amendment.

Colorado Springs poll book, November 8, 1910

1916

• April 15: The Suffrage Special, a train carrying women's suffrage activists, arrived in Denver.
• April 17: The Suffrage Special arrived in Colorado Springs.
• August: The National Woman's Party held a meeting in Colorado Springs.

1919

• December 8: A special meeting of Colorado's state government was called.
• December 15: Colorado officially approved the Nineteenth Amendment. This amendment gave women across the U.S. the right to vote.
• The Prison Special, a group of women who had been jailed for protesting, visited Denver.

Changes in the 1920s

1920

• June 17: The State Equal Suffrage Association changed its name. It became the League of Women Voters of Colorado. This group helps people register to vote and learn about elections.

1924

• The Indian Citizenship Act made Native Americans U.S. citizens. However, Colorado still did not allow them to vote.

Voting Rights for All in the 1970s

1970

• Finally, Native Americans living on reservations were allowed to vote in Colorado.