1893-S BARBER 50C MS65

Strangely enough, western territories were far more progressive than most Eastern States when it came to basic human rights. For example, newer western territories did not allow slavery to grow with them, some territories allowed equal pay for men and women, and others gave women individual rights. Perhaps the most important and progressive decision some western territories made was allowing women the right to vote. Colorado was the first already established state to allow such a thing in 1893, though it was certainly an uphill battle for them as well. Years earlier, the territory of Wyoming was the first to allow women over the age of twenty-one to vote in local elections. Delegates from the territory urged the surrounding states to follow their lead; this included Colorado. Unfortunately, thanks to several stuck-in-their-ways people from the mountain and mining towns, the state’s first move was to allow women the right to vote in school elections only; they promised to hold a referendum conference at a later time, in 1877, to review. By then, several major players that would become famous Suffragette leaders traveled to Colorado to help with the vote; among the delegates were Susan B. Anthony and Molly Brown. Once again the referendum did not pass thanks to immigrant fear mongering and a representation shift. Soon enough reformers came together to create the Colorado Non-Partisan Equal Suffrage Association and made the final push to change the law once and for all. After working their way through the government and earning the support of the current and former governor, they ousted an anti-Suffrage senator and got a lawyer to back their legislation. Near the end of 1893 the Colorado Suffragettes successfully negotiated with their opposition- this time it was brewers and saloon keepers who thought women would outlaw alcohol- to get their freedom. From November 7th onward women could legally vote in all state elections, a fantastic feat for the Suffragette movement that was achieved nationally nearly two decades later.