U.S. Senate

In 1874, the U.S. Senate debated the establishment of a new territory, Pembina (which eventually became the Dakota Territory). Part of the Senate’s task was to decide the form of government that would rule over this new territory. Senator Aaron Sargent of California proposed that all inhabitants, male and female, should be allowed to vote in elections in this new territory. His proposal sparked a larger debate about the desirability of women’s suffrage throughout the entire United States. The senators’ debate presents a wide array of arguments on both sides of this highly contentious issue—illustrating the difficult road that supporters of women’s suffrage faced.

Mr. BOREMAN. I move to proceed with the consideration of the bill to establish the Territory of Pembina, and to provide a temporary...