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Margaret Brent(1601-1671)
1st woman to appear before court to claim land. Early American feminist, land owner, and executor for the governor of Maryland. Never married, could legally own land as an unmarried woman, appeared in court to handle her own business affairs. In 1645 Gov. Calvert named her executor of his will. -
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Women in Politics in America
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Lydia Chaman Taft(1712-1778)
America's 1st legal woman voter. Cast a ballot in local townhall at a time when only free male property owners were allowed to vote. Lydia and her husband, Josiah, had one of the largest estates in town. After he became ill and died in 1756, townspeople voted to allow Lydia to vote at an important meeting concerning financial support of French and Indian war. Lydia vote in favor of, She votes again in 1758, and 1765. -
Penelope Pagett Barket(1728-1796)
Organized Edenton Tea Party in Edenton, North Carolina to protest taxation without representation. Believed to be the first political action by a woman in the American colonies. Took a great risk in leading, her husband was an agent of British Crown. She also managed her own affairs. -
Isabella Baunfree (1797-1893)
Born a slave, escaped her master along with her daughter the year before emancipation laws went into effect in New York. In order to free her son, she took his master to court and won, becoming the 1st black woman to win against a white man court. changed her name later to Sojourner Truth. -
Ernestine Rose (1810-1892)
Drew up and sumitted the 1st petition for a bill that would grant married women the right to control their own property and earnings. New York's Married Women's Property Act passed in 1848. -
Elizabeth Stanton (1815-1902)
Ran for U.S. House of Representatives as an independent, received 24 of 12,000 votes. -
Esther Hobart Morris (1814-1902)
1st woman Justice of Peace in America. Orphaned at a young age, became a successful business woman by her early 20's. Spoke out against slavery. A bill signed into law by Governor John Campbell in 1869 giving women the right to vote and hold public office in Wyoming. Served 8 1/2 months, held court over mners, gamblers, speculators, business owners, and prostitutes. Ruled on 26 cases, 9 or which were criminal. Had her husband, John, arrested for assault and battery. -
Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906)
1st woman to vote in presedential election, arrested for voting illegally, inspired suffrage movement. -
Victoria Woodhull (1838-1927)
Ran for president on Equal Rights Party ticket, became 1st woman stockbroker, 1st woman to appeaf before House Judiciary Committe where she spake on women's suffrage. -
Susanna Slater (1860-1961)
1st woman mayor of Argonia, KS and 1st mayor in the country. -
Jeanette Rankin (1880-1973)
1st woman elected to Congress, was only lawmaker to vote against the U.S. entering into both world wars. -
Right to Vote
19th Amendment passed, women won the right to vote -
Nellie Ross (1833-1953)
1st woman elected governor, succeeding her late husband in Wyoming. -
Frances Perkins (1880-1965)
1st woman U.S. cabinet position, appointed by President Franklin Roosevelt to serve as Secretary of Labor. Held position for 12 years. -
Eleanor Roosevelt
Appointed as head of the United Nations Human Rights commission. She has been called one of the most influential women of the 20th century. -
Shirley Chisholm (1924-2005)
1st black woman to serve in United States House of Representatives, retired in 1982. In 1972 ran for democratic president nomination, survived 3 assassination attempts. -
Patricia Harris (1924-1985)
1st black woman to serve in a presidential cabinet. Appointed by President Jimmy Carter as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and later served as Secretary of Health and Human Services. 1st woman to hold 2 different cabinet offices. -
Sandra Day O'Connor (1930- )
1st woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court -
Geraldine Ferraro (1935-2011)
1st woman to ever run on major party's national ticket, ran for Vice President on Walter Mondale's ticket. -
Carol Braun (1947- )
1st African-American woman elected to U.S. Senate. D-Illinois -
Madelaine Albright (1937- )
!st woman Secretary of State, the highest ranking woman in the United States government -
Nancy Pelosi (1940- )
Speaker of the House, making her the highest ranking female politician in American history. -
Women versus men
graph of number of women in senate and house of rep today
