1893 Colorado women's suffrage referendum

Subsequently, Colorado became the first American state to enact women's suffrage by popular referendum.

The act granted women the right to vote "in the same manner in all respects as male persons are.

"[1] Before Colorado, many western states and territories had already granted women's suffrage, most notably Wyoming and Utah.

Influenced by the actions of female activists in those states, Colorado's own suffrage movement began to gain traction in the 1870s.

In 1877, male legislators decided to hold a referendum to determine the voting status of women.

In 1893, the Ninth General Assembly passed a motion to put the question of women's suffrage up for election.

It was a grassroots coalition of women's organizations, churches, political parties, charity groups, unions and farmers alliances.

[8] After the bill was presented in the Colorado General Assembly, anti-suffragists placed a copy of their journal, the Remonstrance, on the desk of ever legislator.

[12] In the months after the passing of the 1893 Suffrage Bill, the number of women learning political history skyrocketed.

One Denver firm reported selling a larger number of books on political economy during the first eight months than they had in the 20 years before.