ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Women's suffrage in Missouri

Women's suffrage in Missouri is about women being able to vote. In the olden days, only men were allowed to vote and have a say in who becomes the leaders of the state. But women wanted to have a voice too! They believed that they should also be able to vote and make important decisions for their communities.

Women in Missouri started fighting for their right to vote a long time ago, in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They formed groups called suffragettes and worked very hard to convince people that women should be allowed to vote. They held meetings, wrote letters, made speeches, and did many other things to get their message across.

But many people didn't think women should vote. They had some silly reasons, like believing that women were not as smart as men or that their place was only in the home. They thought that women shouldn't be involved in important decisions about the state.

However, the suffragettes didn't give up! They kept fighting and trying to change people's minds. Finally, in 1919, the United States passed a law called the 19th Amendment, which allowed women all across the country to vote. It was a huge victory for women's rights!

Missouri played an important role in this victory. The state was one of the first to pass a law giving women the right to vote in 1919, even before the 19th Amendment was ratified. This meant that women in Missouri could vote in elections while women in other parts of the country were still waiting for their turn.

So, because of the hard work and dedication of women in Missouri and all over the United States, women now have the right to vote. This means that women can choose the leaders they believe will make the best decisions for their communities and have a say in shaping the future of their state. It's an important right that we should all be thankful for!