Montana honors Jeannette Rankin, first woman elected to Congress

Montana's Election Season: What to Expect

Now that we are in full-blown election season here in Montana, most of us are getting texts and phone calls from all kinds of different pollsters wanting to know how we plan on voting.

For some of us, we'll just vote for whomever is representing our party of choice, others might choose to do a little research into the matter.

A Historic Shift: New Leadership on the Horizon

Either way, when it's all said and down, Montana will have a new U.S. Senator and a new U.S. Representative that will head to Washington, D.C.

Trailblazers in Politics: Jeannette Rankin's Legacy

I bring this up because Montana is also the home of some pretty important political achievements, including the election of Jeannette Rankin, who just happened to be the first woman ever elected to Congress.

The Impact of Jeannette Rankin: First Woman in Congress

The election took place back in 1916 and what made this so remarkable was, not only was Rankin the first woman to be elected to Congress, but at that time, women didn't even have the right to vote, and wouldn't for another 4 years.

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Rankin was born in Montana in 1880 and would attend the University of Montana, she would later continue her education in Washington after getting involved in the women's suffrage movement.

Rankin's Stance on War: A Commitment to Peace

It should be noted that Rankin wasn't one to enter war. She voted against going into the first World War in 1917 and would also be the lone vote against going into the second World War in 1941.

Rankin would represent Montana twice in Congress and would pass away in 1973 at the age of 92. Rankin was a member of the Republican Party.

A Lasting Legacy: From Congress to Community Action

Because of her desire for peace, the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center exists today in Missoula.

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The Non-Profit has a mission of helping communities in Western Montana to build a compassionate world through education, as well as dialogue, and non-violent action