Which country was the first to grant women the right to vote? A) United States B) New Zealand C) Australia D) Sweden
VerifiedAnswer: B) New Zealand
Explanation:
New Zealand holds the historic distinction of being the first self-governing country in the world to grant women the right to vote. This groundbreaking achievement occurred on September 19, 1893, when the Electoral Act was passed, giving all women aged 21 and over the right to vote in parliamentary elections.
The journey to women's suffrage in New Zealand was led by remarkable women like Kate Sheppard, who organized petitions and campaigned tirelessly for voting rights. The final petition presented to Parliament in 1893 contained nearly 32,000 signatures – an impressive number considering New Zealand's small population at the time. This persistent advocacy, combined with support from progressive male politicians, finally convinced Parliament to pass the legislation.
Let's look at why the other options are incorrect. The United States didn't grant women nationwide voting rights until 1920 with the 19th Amendment, though some individual states had allowed women to vote earlier. Australia followed New Zealand's example and granted women federal voting rights in 1902, but this came nine years after New Zealand. Sweden granted women full voting rights even later, in 1919.
What makes New Zealand's achievement even more significant is that women could not only vote but also stand for Parliament from 1919 onwards. Elizabeth McCombs became the first woman elected to New Zealand's Parliament in 1933, continuing the country's progressive tradition in women's political participation.
This historic milestone didn't happen overnight but was the result of decades of organized effort by the women's suffrage movement. The success in New Zealand inspired suffrage movements worldwide and proved that extending voting rights to women was both practical and beneficial for democracy. Today, New Zealand continues to be recognized as a pioneer in gender equality in politics.
