This Day in History: Susan B. Anthony Arrested After Voting in the Presidential Election

Susan B. Anthony, a prominent American social reformer and women's rights activist born on February 15, 1820, was instrumental in the women's suffrage movement. She began her advocacy early by collecting anti-slavery petitions and later partnered with Elizabeth Cady Stanton to form key organizations aimed at promoting women's rights. This alliance was significant in the creation of the Women’s Loyal National League, which gathered nearly 400,000 signatures to support the abolition of slavery, laying a foundation for their future work on women's suffrage.

In 1872, seeking to challenge the legal restrictions on women's voting rights, Anthony cast her ballot in Rochester, New York, leading to her arrest. Despite the conviction and refusal to pay the imposed fine, her actions drew national attention and successfully ignited discussions around women's voting rights. This heightened visibility contributed to the eventual introduction of the amendment that became known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment, which was ratified as the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920, granting women the right to vote.

For collectors of stamps and coins, Anthony’s legacy is vividly commemorated; she became the first woman to be depicted on U.S. coinage when her portrait appeared on the 1979 dollar coin. Collecting materials related to Susan B. Anthony not only honors her contributions to women's rights but also provides a tangible connection to a transformative chapter in American history. For further details, visit the source.