Women’s Suffrage Lesson Plans and Links

Five African American Suffragists You Should Know

When the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified in August 1920, African American women were denied equal access to the ballot and had to fight for the right to vote until the 1960s. Here are the stories of five African American suffragists you should know.

National Youth Summit – Woman Suffrage: The Ballot and Beyond

The National Museum of American History’s 2019 National Youth Summit looked at woman suffrage as an example of how groups with limited political power have shaped and continue to shape our democracy.

The Suffragist

These videos from the National Museum of American History examine the actions taken by suffragists in 1917 as they fought to win the right to vote. Students learn through the experience of Rebecca, a historical character who is deciding whether to join the movement.

Girlhood (It’s complicated)

Get a behind-the-scenes preview of the upcoming exhibition, “Girlhood (It’s complicated),” with Jean Case, co-chair of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative Advisory Committee; Dr. Kathleen Franz, curator and chair of the National Museum of American History’s Division of Work History; and Megan Smith, senior creative developer in the museum’s Education and Impact team. The exhibition will open at the National Museum of American History this fall, and SITES will travel the exhibition beginning in 2023.

Women’s Liberation Playlist

This playlist of songs of activism and protest was compiled by Meredith Holmgren, Curator of American Women’s Music at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.

Because of Her Story: Activism

Progress on every major social issue of our time has its roots in the activism and advocacy of everyday people in the past. Read stories about women activists, explore objects from the Smithsonian’s collections, and dive into other related resources.