American Women Gain Political Ground

Throughout American history, women have worked to gain political power, even during times when sexism was prevalent in America.
In the 1770s, when America was revolting to break free from British power, women were active in protesting however they could. For example, homemakers boycotted tea and British made clothing; some, like Sarah Morris Mifflin, spun their own thread or made other goods of their own.
Due to discontent with their lack of rights, women began to take action to gain ground. In 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott launched America's first women suffrage movement at the Seneca Falls Convention in NY. At the convention, Stanton presented her Declaration of Sentiments, where she demanded greater rights for women, especially highlighting the right to vote. 50 years later, in 1920, women finally won their fight with the 19th amendment, which granted them their right to vote.
From 1972-1982, women had begun to join the work force and realized the inequality of pay between gender for the same amount of work. The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) they wanted called for the same social and economic rights as men. It failed to be ratified into the Constitution.
Despite the ERA not passing, many women achieved high positions politically, socially, and economically by 2001. In the 107th Congress, 60 women were in the House and 13 were in the Senate; for example, Washington senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell in 2000.
Over time, women's rights have progressively expanded and improved to reach equality. Today, women are as successful as men and have taken on an equal role in society in the USA.

--by Hannah and Mingming :)