Susan B. Anthony (1820 – 1906) was a leading American suffragist and social reformer. She played a crucial role in securing women’s voting rights and was instrumental in the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920.
Born into a Quaker family devoted to social justice, Anthony became involved in the temperance movement but soon shifted her focus to women’s rights. In 1851, she met Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and together they founded organizations like the National Woman Suffrage Association. Anthony also worked for the abolition of slavery and equal rights for all.
In 1872, she was arrested for voting in an election, a bold act that brought national attention to the suffrage cause. She refused to pay the fine, using her trial as a platform for advocacy. In 1878, she introduced a constitutional amendment for women’s suffrage, which later became the Nineteenth Amendment.
Anthony traveled extensively, delivering hundreds of speeches and leading campaigns. Though she did not live to see women win the right to vote, her dedication made it possible. Her legacy remains a symbol of perseverance and equality.