Assignment 7: Charlotte Kessinger

September 19, 1893
On this day, New Zealand became the first country in the world to grant women the right to vote after two decades of campaigning lead by Kate Sheppard and Mary Ann Müller. Women suffrage in New Zealand acted as a role model for other countries to follow in it's footsteps. Women suffrage led to many women taking leadership roles in government spots. It was a major breakthrough and influenced other countries to allow women to vote. The United States of America gave women the right to vote almost 30 years later however. Without giving women the right to vote in New Zealand, many other developing countries such as the United States of America or Great Britain would have given women suffrage much much later and more reluctantly. I am very thankful that when I turn 18 I will have the responsibility to vote. I think it is very important to have a voice in government action. It is important that both men and women are equal and starting with women suffrage is very important.