Today 19th August, 2010 marks the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, the one that gave American women the right to vote after 10 complete decades of agitation, marching and organization, to the United States Constitution.
In year 1920 on this very date, the Tennessee General Assembly became the 36th state in the history of US Constitution to approve the 19th amendment, consequently making it official.
According to the original text of the 19th Amendment, the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
The history of 19th Amendment’s introduction to US Constitution is very interesting. Many among us may remember that in the General Assembly the introduction of 19th Amendment was suffering a 48-48 tie and the significant authorization occurred by just one single vote casted in favor of the 19th Amendment by a man called Harry T. Burn who was a lawyer and later a banker.
So, Burn’s vote was surely of much importance as it could obtain the voting rights for the women by favoring the 19th Amendment or could postpone national ratification at least another month until the Connecticut Legislature vote.
But, fortunately for American women, shortly before the historic legislative tally, Harry T. Burn received a long letter from his mother back home in Niota.
It stated “I have been watching to see how you stood, but have not noticed anything yet. Don’t forget to be a good boy”.
So, following the advice, Harry T. Burn behaved himself, changed his ‘nay’ vote to ‘yea’ and what happened next has become the history.
19th Amendment
