From Seneca Falls to the Ballot Box: The Evolution of Women’s Suffrage
Location: Academic I, Room 1106
Presenter: Dino Ritsatos
This presentation traces the long and complex journey of the women’s suffrage movement from the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention to the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920. Far from a single moment of triumph, the struggle for voting rights unfolded over decades of activism, internal divisions, strategic debates, and grassroots organizing. Participants will explore the roles of key leaders, the influence of abolition and Reconstruction politics, and the evolving tactics that shaped the movement. The session will also examine the ways race, class, and regional differences complicated the path to suffrage. By situating the 19th Amendment within its broader historical context, this talk highlights how expanding democracy has always required persistence, courage, and collective action.