Jeannette Rankin
One of the moat astoundin things to happen is for a woman to be elected to Congress before women could actualy vote. Amazing but true. This happened to Jeannette Rankin.
Rankin was born near Missoula, Montana in June 11, 1880. She was the eldest of seven childresn. She grsduated from the University of Montana in1902nwith a degree in biology.
In 1916 she ran for office and won. She was using a progressive Republican platform that included national women's suffrage, child protection laws, and prohibition.
Four days after she took her seat in Congress she was cougth up in the debate of whether or not US should declsre war against Germany. She was one of 57 members to vote against it but her vite received the most attention. It was said that it was just like a women to vote no and that she had cried while doing so.
In 1918 she ran again and lost as a Republican. Ahe ran again as independent and lost againm.
In 1940 she ran again and won. This time she did so in an Anti-war platform. After the bombong of Pearl Harbor she had to vote again about going to war with Germany. She was the only one to vote no. This ruined her political career.
In 1985, a statu of her was placed in the US Capitol.
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