Constitution of the Proposed State of Wyoming
1889
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Residents in the Territory of Wyoming ratified a state constitution in a special election on November 5, 1889. This copy was submitted as part of the process to admit Wyoming to the union as a state.
In March of 1890, the Wyoming Statehood Bill was introduced in Congress. The Territory of Wyoming had opened its polls to women in 1869, a half century before the 19th Amendment was ratified. As the territory sought statehood, Wyoming’s women fought to protect their voting rights. Delegates to the Wyoming constitutional convention who had drafted the constitution worried that its inclusion of equal rights for men and women might prevent it from passing.
Article VI, "Suffrage," Section I states:
In March of 1890, the Wyoming Statehood Bill was introduced in Congress. The Territory of Wyoming had opened its polls to women in 1869, a half century before the 19th Amendment was ratified. As the territory sought statehood, Wyoming’s women fought to protect their voting rights. Delegates to the Wyoming constitutional convention who had drafted the constitution worried that its inclusion of equal rights for men and women might prevent it from passing.
Article VI, "Suffrage," Section I states:
The rights of Citizens of the State of Wyoming to vote and hold office, shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex. Both male and female Citizens of this state shall equally enjoy all civil, political and religious rights and privileges.
However, the Statehood Bill passed both chambers of Congress. President Benjamin Harrison signed it into law on July 10, 1890, making Wyoming the 44th state. For the first time since New Jersey disfranchised women in 1807, women in a U.S. state enjoyed full voting rights.
Select pages are shown here, including the certification of ratification in Wyoming by the territorial governor, Francis E. Warren (2nd and 3rd pages). Also shown is Article I, Section II which states that "In their inherent right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, all members of the human race are equal" (4th page); and Article VI, Section I, quoted above, on suffrage (5th page). See the entire document in the National Archives online catalog.
Select pages are shown here, including the certification of ratification in Wyoming by the territorial governor, Francis E. Warren (2nd and 3rd pages). Also shown is Article I, Section II which states that "In their inherent right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, all members of the human race are equal" (4th page); and Article VI, Section I, quoted above, on suffrage (5th page). See the entire document in the National Archives online catalog.
This primary source comes from the General Records of the Department of State.
National Archives Identifier: 40441918
Full Citation: Constitution for the State of Wyoming; 1889; State Constitutions and Papers Relating to Admission of States, 1859 - 1911; General Records of the Department of State, Record Group 59; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/wyoming-state-constitution, March 23, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.