Washington could've been first
Title
Washington could've been first
Description
Washington becomes a separate territory from Oregon in 1853. At the first meeting of its independent legislature, a man named Arthur Denny proposes “to allow all white females over the age of 18 years to vote.” The bill fails 9-8. #StateOfTheWeek @HistoryLink @HistoryMuseum
Edmond Meany, an early state historian, noted that at least one of the naysayers was married to a Native American woman, and the bill might have passed if Native wives of white men had been included. Native Americans were not otherwise considered citizens and could not vote.
What motivated Arthur Denny to make the 1854 proposal? He was a wealthy founder of Seattle, a conservative Christian, a teetotaler - not an obvious supporter of sex equality. Did the other men ask him to include Native women and he refused? Or...? /Fin
Edmond Meany, an early state historian, noted that at least one of the naysayers was married to a Native American woman, and the bill might have passed if Native wives of white men had been included. Native Americans were not otherwise considered citizens and could not vote.
What motivated Arthur Denny to make the 1854 proposal? He was a wealthy founder of Seattle, a conservative Christian, a teetotaler - not an obvious supporter of sex equality. Did the other men ask him to include Native women and he refused? Or...? /Fin
Creator
Daily Suffragist
Source
Date
02/10/2019
Files
Collection
Citation
Daily Suffragist, “Washington could've been first,” Daily Suffragist, accessed April 24, 2025, https://dailysuffragist.omeka.net/items/show/90.