Origins & Early Life

Jeannette Pickering Rankin (June 11, 1880 – May 18, 1973) was an American politician and women's rights advocate who became the first woman to hold federal office in the United States. She was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican from Montana in 1916 for one term, then was elected again in 1940. Rankin remains the only woman ever elected to Congress from Montana.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Each of Rankin's congressional terms coincided with the initiation of U.S. military intervention in both world wars. A lifelong pacifist, she was one of 50 House members who opposed the declaration of war on Germany in 1917. In 1941, she was the sole member of Congress to vote against the declaration of war on Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor. She remains the last member of Congress to vote against a declaration of war.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The last time the United States issued a formal declaration of war was in June 1942, when the United States declared war on Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria, from which Rankin abstained. A suffragist during the Progressive Era, Rankin organized and lobbied for legislation enfranchising women in several states, including Montana, New York, and North Dakota. While in Congress, she...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alexander Grin — Contemporary (Born in 1880) (1880): A celebrated Russian writer known for romantic fantasy novels and sea adventures.
• Alfred Wegener — Contemporary (Born in 1880) (1880): Pioneering geophysicist known for proposing the theory of continental drift.
• Alice Bailey — Contemporary (Born in 1880) (1880): American esoteric writer known for neo-theosophical works and pioneering New Age concepts.
• A. S. Neill — Contemporary (Died in 1973) (1973): Scottish progressive educator, founder of Summerhill, championing self-governance.
• Abebe Bikila — Contemporary (Died in 1973) (1973): Ethiopian Olympic marathon champion, known for his barefoot victories in Rome and Tokyo.
• Adrien Brody — Contemporary (Born in 1973) (1973): Acclaimed American actor known for intense, emotionally charged character portrayals.
• Alfred Kroeber — Shared historical date (06-11 · Born) (1876): Pioneering American cultural anthropologist, influential in early museum and academic departments.
• Alvin Langdon Coburn — Shared historical date (06-11 · Born) (1882): Pioneering American photographer, key figure in Pictorialism and abstract art.
• Ai Weiwei — Shared historical date (05-18 · Born) (1957): Dissident Chinese conceptual artist, documentarian, and activist known for critiquing the CCP.
• Apsley Cherry-Garrard — Shared historical date (05-18 · Died) (1959): English polar explorer renowned for his Antarctic accounts and survival narratives.
• 1880 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1880
• June 11 (06-11) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on June 11
• 1973 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1973
• May 18 (05-18) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on May 18