Which is the first Country to give Voting Right to Women?
VerifiedAnswer: New Zealand
Explanation:
New Zealand holds the historic distinction of being the first 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, allowing all women aged 21 and over to participate in parliamentary elections.
The journey toward women's suffrage in New Zealand was led by determined activists and reformers. Key figures included Kate Sheppard, who became the face of the suffrage movement, along with other dedicated women like Meri Te Tai Mangakahia and Ada Wells. These women organized petition campaigns, wrote articles, and lobbied politicians tirelessly to secure voting rights for women.
The final push came through massive petition campaigns that demonstrated widespread support for women's suffrage. The largest petition, presented in 1893, contained nearly 32,000 signatures – an impressive number considering New Zealand's small population at the time. This petition was so long that when unrolled in Parliament, it stretched the entire length of the chamber floor.
Several factors contributed to New Zealand's pioneering status in women's suffrage. The country's relatively small, egalitarian society made social reforms easier to implement. Additionally, the colonial environment had already challenged traditional gender roles, as women often took on responsibilities that would have been unusual in more established societies. The influence of liberal political thinking and the temperance movement also played crucial roles in advancing women's rights.
It's important to note that while New Zealand was first to grant women the right to vote, women still couldn't stand for Parliament until 1919. The first woman elected to New Zealand's Parliament was Elizabeth McCombs in 1933. This shows that achieving full political equality was a gradual process, even in this progressive nation.
New Zealand's achievement had a significant impact globally, inspiring suffrage movements in other countries. Australia followed in 1902, Finland in 1906, and gradually other nations began extending voting rights to women. However, it would take several more decades before women's suffrage became widespread, with some countries not granting women full voting rights until the latter half of the 20th century.
