Who was the first woman in Congress?

Feminist. Pacifist. Trailblazing politician. Who was Jeannette Rankin? Born on June 11, 1880, Jeannette Rankin was the eldest of seven children and was raised near Missoula, Montana. She graduated from the University of Montana in 1902 and later became a social worker in Washington state. Rankin became involved in the women’s suffrage movement and helped Montana women earn the right to vote in 1914. Two years later, she successfully ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to become the first woman to serve in Congress. Rankin supported legislation for women’s rights, including a resolution that would later become the 19th Amendment. As a staunch pacifist, she was one of the few to vote against the United States’ entrance into World War I in 1917. Instead of seeking reelection to the House in 1918, Rankin turned toward the Senate, a race she would ultimately lose. However, Rankin’s time in politics wasn’t finished. She ran for Congress on an antiwar platform and won a seat in the House of Representatives in 1940. The term was marked by another infamous vote. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Rankin was the sole vote against the United States’ declaration of war on Japan, a stance that essentially ended her political career. After leaving Congress, Rankin continued her tireless work for social reform, remaining active in organizations including the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and others. Jeannette Rankin died on May 18, 1973, at the age of 92. Her groundbreaking achievements helped pave the way for the hundreds of other female members of Congress to come.