Texas Two-Steppin' into Suffrage: The Story of the Texas Equal Suffrage Association (TESA)
How about we mosey on back to a time when women in Texas couldn't vote? Shocking, right? Well, that's where the feisty females of the Texas Equal Suffrage Association (TESA) come in. Founded in 1903 (with the slightly tamer name Texas Woman Suffrage Association, TWSA, but we'll get to that later), these gals had one mission statement shorter than a cowboy's temper: get women the right to vote.
From Saloon Doors to the Statehouse: How TESA Roped in Change
TESA wasn't your average bunch of ladies having tea parties (though there might have been some fancy fundraising soirées involved). These suffrage soldiers were out there lobbying legislators, holding rallies, and spreading the word like wildfire. They even convinced some men to join their cause, proving that even a dusty old cowboy hat couldn't contain the fight for equality.
Name Change? Name Game!
Fun fact: In 1916, TWSA switched things up and became TESA. Why the rebrand? Well, some folks thought "Woman" in the title was a tad too… well, womanly. Apparently, they wanted something with a bit more… oomph. Texas Equal Suffrage Association? Now that had a ring to it! It said, "We're serious, we're strong, and we're here to stay."
But Wait, There's More! (The Not-So-Pretty Part)
TESA, like many suffrage groups of the time, wasn't perfect. Their fight for equality mainly focused on white women. Black women in Texas were left on the outside looking in, which wasn't exactly neighborly. This is a harsh reality of the suffrage movement, and it's important to acknowledge it.
The Victory Two-Step
By 1918, TESA had helped secure the right for women to vote in Texas primaries. Woop woop! But they weren't done yet. They kept pushing for the national amendment, the holy grail of suffrage. And guess what? In 1919, Texas became the first Southern state to ratify the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote nationwide. Now that's something to write home about (or, you know, tweet about, if Twitter existed back then).
With their mission accomplished, TESA sashayed off the stage, transforming into the League of Women Voters of Texas. They'd done their duty, and Texas women were finally two-stepping their way to the ballot box.
So there you have it! The Texas Equal Suffrage Association: a group of determined women who wouldn't take no for an answer. They may not have had ten-gallon hats, but they sure had the grit and the gumption to change history.
