National Women’s Equality Day is a celebration of trailblazing women, offering the opportunity to look back at the history of the Suffrage Movement in America.
August 26th marks over 100 years since the 19th Amendment was signed into law, guaranteeing women the right to vote. This was the culmination of a long and hard-fought civil rights movement by women across the nation, with its roots in the 1848 women’s rights convention held in Seneca Falls, New York.
In 1973, the US Congress passed a bill designating August 26th as Women’s Equality Day, to not only recognize the struggles of the past that women faced in order to secure their rights, but also their ongoing efforts for full equality.
Using the resources and activities below, learn about visionary women who helped lay the groundwork for the passage of the 19th Amendment and beyond, the Suffrage movement and its connections to abolitionism, and how we are still striving for equality for women today.
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Learn About Suffrage & the Women’s Movement
National Women’s History Museum | Student and Educator Resources
Grades K-12
Founded in 1996, the National Women’s History Museum is an innovative online museum dedicated to uncovering, interpreting, and celebrating women’s diverse contributions to society. A renowned leader in women’s history education, the Museum brings to life the countless untold stories of women throughout history, and serves as a space for all to inspire, experience, collaborate, and amplify women’s impact—past, present, and future. Explore online educational resources including lesson plans, biographies, posters, primary sources, and more.
National Women’s History Alliance | Women’s Equality Day Resources
Grades K-12
The National Women’s History Alliance is a leader in promoting Women’s History and is committed to the goals of education, empowerment, equality, and inclusion. Explore a variety of educational resources and ideas for celebrating Women’s Equality Day.
Upstate, Downstate: The Women’s Movement
Grades 3-5
Upstate, Downstate is an original web series that teaches young learners about the history, geography and government of New York State. Watch an episode exploring the history of the women’s movement of the 1800s, its connection to abolitionism, and how struggles for women’s rights continue to this day.
Unladylike2020 Collection
Grades 6-12
Unladylike2020 honors the centennial of women’s suffrage. This collection of digital resources presents the rich history of 26 little-known Progressive Era women, diverse in profession, race, ethnicity, geographical and class backgrounds, sexual orientation and gender expression, who broke barriers in then-male-dominated fields such as science, business, journalism, exploration, and the arts. Touching on topics such as the labor movement, immigration, politics, civil rights, and women’s suffrage, these resources develop students’ historical thinking skills and help them make connections between past and present.
Trailblazers & Visionary Women
Patsy Mink | Women Advancing Equality: Asian Americans
Grades 3-5
Throughout her life, Patsy Mink faced obstacles because she was Asian and female. But Mink did not give up her pursuit of a political career. In 1964, she was elected to Congress in her second attempt. In Congress, she co-authored Title IX, a law to ensure that no one will be discriminated against in education and federally-funded activities based on gender. In addition to working on Title IX, Mink also fought racial barriers by supporting civil rights legislation.
Sojourner Truth | Abolitionist and Women’s Rights Activist
Grades 3-8
An abolitionist and feminist during the nineteenth century, Sojourner Truth demanded not less discrimination, but no discrimination. Truth escaped enslavement and, despite being unable to read or write, rose to be a leader in the fight for equality and fair treatment for both women and African Americans.
Inez Milholland | Adirondack-Born Suffragist
Grades 4-12
Inez Milholland, iconic suffragist born and raised in the Adirondack town of Lewis, New York, helped lead the national “Votes for Women” suffrage movement. A graduate of Vassar College and NYU Law, Milholland became one of the “faces” of the movement, pictured famously riding a white horse while leading the 8,000 women of the Women’s Suffrage Procession in Washington D.C. in 1913. Milholland traveled across the country to encourage women voters to get behind the movement and support the 19th Amendment. After a grueling schedule, Inez tragically died of anemia at the age of 30. Her death became the inspiration and emotional impetus for the final push for suffrage.
Rose Schneiderman | Unladylike2020
Grades 6-12
In this video from Unladylike2020, learn how Rose Schneiderman, an immigrant whose family settled in the tenements of New York City’s Lower East Side, became one of the most important labor leaders in American history. A socialist and feminist, she fought to end dangerous working conditions for garment workers, and worked to help New York State grant women the right to vote in 1917.
Maggie Lena Walker | Unladylike2020
Grades 6-12
Learn about Maggie Lena Walker, the first African American woman to found a bank in the United States in this digital short from Unladylike2020. Learn how Walker helped to improve the lives of African Americans and women at the turn of the 20th century by providing financial empowerment, social services, and civil rights leadership.
Activities, Books & More
How to Raise Strong Girls
Grades PreK-3
When girls get the message that they have the ability to work through difficulty and learn new things, they stop giving up and start finding their way through their struggles. Try, “I’m working on this” to help your daughter remember that learning takes time.
Children’s Books About Amazing Women
Grades PreK-4
Celebrate amazing women, who have affected more lives than they could have imagined, with this collection of books for kids aged 2-9!
Trailblazer Bio Cards
Grades 6-12
Celebrate extraordinary trailblazing women with these printable Trailblazer Bio Cards and Gallery walk activity.
Women’s Suffrage In the Progressive Era | Unladylike2020
Grades 6-12
In this interactive lesson, using a series of digital shorts from Unladylike2020, you’ll learn about the Women’s Suffrage Movement in the Progressive Era, focusing on the leaders who laid the groundwork for the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment.