Women's Suffrage Figure. Happersett was the St. Louis registrar of voters. In 1872, Virginia Minor, an early supporter and leader of the women's suffrage movement in Missouri, brought suit against the election commissioners for refusing her the right to vote upon her admission to the bar. She had appeared before Happersett and demanded to have her name placed on the list of registered voters. As expected, Happersett refused because "she was not a 'male' citizen, but a woman." The Circuit Court dismissed Minor's petition and she took it to the Missouri Supreme Court. The Court unanimously decided that the 14th Amendment was passed only to protect former slaves from "unfriendly legislation." The "Minor v. Happersett" case was carried to the U.S. Supreme Court. This was to be the only woman suffrage case based primarily on the 14th Amendment that the Court would hear.
Women's Suffrage Figure. Happersett was the St. Louis registrar of voters. In 1872, Virginia Minor, an early supporter and leader of the women's suffrage movement in Missouri, brought suit against the election commissioners for refusing her the right to vote upon her admission to the bar. She had appeared before Happersett and demanded to have her name placed on the list of registered voters. As expected, Happersett refused because "she was not a 'male' citizen, but a woman." The Circuit Court dismissed Minor's petition and she took it to the Missouri Supreme Court. The Court unanimously decided that the 14th Amendment was passed only to protect former slaves from "unfriendly legislation." The "Minor v. Happersett" case was carried to the U.S. Supreme Court. This was to be the only woman suffrage case based primarily on the 14th Amendment that the Court would hear.
Bio by: Connie Nisinger
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