Following the Civil War, the 14th and 15th Amendments were added to the United States Constitution. The new amendments allowed all United States citizens to vote in elections regardless of color or race. Even though the amendment made no mention of whether women could vote, it was widely known that women could not vote.

In 1872, Susan B. Anthony had had enough. She had devoted her life to fighting for women’s rights. On November 5, Anthony and 14 other women voted for Ulysses S. Grant in Rochester, New York. Anthony argued that the 14th Amendment allowed all citizens to vote, and “all” citizens included women. Not surprisingly, Anthony was arrested on November 14th for illegally voting. Rather than turning herself in, Anthony insisted on being handcuffed. Although she was judged guilty, Anthony would never be put in a jail cell, nor was she forced to pay the $100 fine she was issued. Eventually, in 1919, the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote.