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Republic of Texas Constitution Adopted
The Constitution of the Republic of Texas denied women the right to vote, own property independently (if married), or participate in politics. -
Texas Joins the United States
When Texas joined the Union, it adopted laws modeled after other Southern states, reinforcing the lack of rights for women. Married women had very limited legal status, and suffrage was still only granted to men. -
Seneca Falls Convention (National Event with Texas Impact)
Although not in Texas, this national event launched the organized women’s rights movement in the U.S. Texas women began forming reading circles and informal discussion groups inspired by these ideas. -
Civil War Begins; Women’s Roles Shift
With many men away at war, Texas women managed farms, businesses, and households. Though informal, this increased visibility helped challenge traditional gender roles. -
First Texas Public School Law Passed
This law opened teaching as a profession for women, providing them with one of the few acceptable career options and increasing their public presence in society. -
Growth of Women’s Clubs in Texas
The start of women’s literary clubs in cities like Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio laid the foundation for organized activism. These clubs discussed civic improvement, education, and eventually suffrage. -
Texas Constitutional Convention
Women had no voting rights and were not allowed to participate in the convention. Petitions from women’s groups for suffrage were ignored, but it marked one of the first formal calls for change in Texas. -
Texas Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) Founded
The WCTU was one of the first statewide organizations to advocate for women’s suffrage in Texas, connecting the right to vote with moral and social reforms like temperance. -
Texas Equal Rights Association (TERA) Formed
Founded by Rebecca Henry Hayes in Dallas, TERA was the first organization in Texas specifically dedicated to women’s suffrage. It connected Texas efforts to the national movement and held public lectures and campaigns. -
First Texas Women’s Suffrage Convention
Held in Dallas, this convention brought together activists from across the state to organize, strategize, and build public support for the right to vote. It was a major milestone in Texas women's political organizing.