During its territorial era, the Wyoming Legislature played a crucial role in the Suffragette Movement in the United States.

The legislature's move made Wyoming the first territory of the United States where women were explicitly granted the voting franchise.

In 1870, the Utah Territorial Legislature followed suit and granted the voting franchise to women.

The move by the legislature was motivated by a number of factors, including bringing Eastern women to the territory to increase its population (it has consistently been among the least-populated states in America), to publicize the new territory, to bring more voters into the fold (both for existing political elites and again due to its small population), and by genuine concerns that women should be allowed the vote.

Due to the territory's change of voting laws in 1869, the U.S. Congress was hostile to Wyoming and its legislature.