Jeannette Rankin

@First Woman Elected to U.s Congress, Timeline and Family ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Jeannette Rankin was the first woman elected to U.S American University Of Washington Activists Women's Rights Activists Gemini Celebrities Jeannette Rankin was the first woman elected to U.S. Congress. At the time when Rankin was elected to the United States Congress, female participation in politics was unheard of. Rankin’s entry into politics was a gradual process. She started off as a social worker, lobbying for women suffrage movement. It was due to her tireless efforts that the Nineteenth Amendment was passed which secured women the right the vote across America. Though the feat was a remarkable achievement in Rankin’s political career, it was her pacifist foreign policy that defined much of her congressional terms. Rankin became the only member of the Congress to vote against the US entry into World War I and World War II. While her opposition for World War I received support from 49 other Congresspersons, her pacifism against World War II raised outrage as she was the only person to vote against war. Rankin’s adamant pacifist stance was noteworthy. Though her commitment towards anti-war sentiments was largely ridiculed for much of her life, it was only towards the end that she became an inspiration for numerous other women activists and pacifists.

Personal Details

Birthday: June 11, 1880 Died on: May 18, 1973 Nationality: American Famous: First Woman Elected to U.s Congress, University Of Washington, Activists, Women's Rights Activists Known as: Рэнкин, Джанет Universities: University Of Washington University of Washington University of Montana Notable Alumnis: University Of Washington Information Detail Birthday June 11, 1880 Died on May 18, 1973 Nationality American Famous First Woman Elected to U.s Congress, University Of Washington, Activists, Women's Rights Activists Known as Рэнкин, Джанет Universities University Of Washington University of Washington University of Montana Notable Alumnis University Of Washington Birth Place Missoula Gender Female Sun Sign Gemini Born in Missoula Famous as First Woman Elected to U.S Congress Died at Age 92

Missoula

Jeannette Rankin born at Unsplash Birth Place

Jeannette Rankin breathed her last on May 18, 1973 in Carmel, California. Till the end of her life, Rankin committed her life to pacifism and fought against US participations in war. Unsplash Personal Life

For her tireless effort on women suffrage and pacifism, Rankin has been memorialized. A statue of her rests in United States Capitol’s Statuary Hall with the inscription ‘I Cannot Vote for War’ Unsplash Personal Life

Jeannette Rankin was born on June 11, 1880, near Missoula, Montana, Olive Pickering Rankin and John Rankin. She was eldest among the six siblings. While her mother was a school teacher, her father worked as an immigrant carpenter and rancher. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

Since Jeannette was the eldest child of the family, she assisted her parents in daily chores and outdoor works. She also took care of her younger siblings. Hardworking and laborious, she helped maintain the ranch machinery. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

Academically, Rankin attended high school and later enrolled at the University of Montana. She graduated in 1902 with a B.Sc. degree in biology. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

After completing her studies, Jeannette Rankin initially tried her hands in various professions such as dressmaking, furniture designing and social work. Unsplash Career

In 1908, after realising that her true passion lies in social work, she enrolled in the New York School of Philanthropy in New York City and passed out from the school in 1909.. Unsplash Career

In 1909, Rankin relocated to Spokane, Washington. Therein, she attended the University of Washington. It was while at the university that she became involved in the women suffrage movement. Soon, she organized the New York Women’s Suffrage Party and served as a lobbyist for the National American Woman Suffrage Association. In 1910, Washington voters approved an amendment to their state constitution permanently enfranchising women; Washington became the fifth state in the Union to do so. Unsplash Career

In 1911, Rankin created history by becoming the first woman to speak before the Montana legislature. Therein, she made her case for women’s suffrage. She actively worked to make amendments in the state constitution that would give women the right to vote. Her hard work finally paid off in 1914 as Montana granted women unrestricted voting rights. Unsplash Career

In 1916, Rankin ran for a seat in the US House of Representative. After extensive campaigning and travelling, she finally emerged victorious, becoming the first woman to serve in the Congress. Unsplash Career

Though Jeannette Rankin is best remembered for her pacifism and her opposition against U.S. entry in World War I and II, one cannot deny her contribution in the women suffrage movement. She played a pivotal role in the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment that secured voting rights for women. Unsplash Major Works

Information	Detail
Birthday	June 11, 1880
Died on	May 18, 1973
Nationality	American
Famous	First Woman Elected to U.s Congress, University Of Washington, Activists, Women's Rights Activists
Known as	Рэнкин, Джанет
Universities	University Of Washington University of Washington University of Montana
Notable Alumnis	University Of Washington
Birth Place	Missoula
Gender	Female
Sun Sign	Gemini
Born in	Missoula
Famous as	First Woman Elected to U.S Congress
Died at Age	92

Jeannette Rankin

American

Jun 11, 1880

Biography

Personal Details

Missoula