Jeannette Rankin

1880-1973

Jeanette Rankin was the first woman in Congress. She served in The House of Representatives. She fought for women's rights and against war.

  

Jeannette Rankin had many modern ideas for her time. She wanted women's rights. She used the government to achieve this. Jeannette was born June 11, 1880 in Montana. In 1902, she went to college at The University of Montana.

Jeannette had always loved peace and wanted the world to be peaceful. She also believed in women's rights. Men did not want to see a woman in Congress. However, enough men voted for her and in 1916 Jeanette had a seat in the House of Representatives. Jeannette influenced the men in Congress to give women the right to vote. Men began listening to Jeannette when she was a congresswoman. After four years of influencing the other congressmen in 1920, women were given the right to vote. If Jeanette had not been a fighter for women's rights, where would we be today?

She also opposed both World Wars because she loved peace. Her opposition of these wars may have been the reason she lost the next election. While she was on Congress, she made women heard.

The government officials and the citizens began to look at women with more respect after Jeannette. Jeannette broke the gender barrier for Congress. She spent her whole life working for woman's rights.

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