Final answer:
Women received the right to vote mainly due to the efforts of women's suffrage movements, which were active since the late 1800s. The activism, educational gains, and economic influence of women culminated in the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in the United States in 1920, with similar progress in other countries following. This was a reward not just for their contributions during World War I, but for decades of persistent advocacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Women received the right to vote in many places in the 1920s as a culmination of decades of activism, social change, and participation in the workforce. Women's suffrage movements were instrumental in this achievement. These movements had been active since the late 1800s and gained significant momentum with educated middle-class women leading various social change initiatives. By effectively lobbying for legislation at local and state levels, women gradually secured voting rights in some areas early on. The westward states in the U.S., for instance, were the first to grant women the right to vote. Education, economic influence, and professional advancement acted as catalysts for the movement's success. During World War I, women's war efforts were crucial, and in recognition, many countries extended voting rights as a reward for their contribution. However, the triumph of the suffrage movement was not solely due to the war; it was the result of tireless advocacy, persistent educational gains, and increasing participation in public life.
Across the world, different nations responded to the call for women's suffrage at varying times and under varied circumstances. Some countries, like the new nation of Poland, granted women the vote immediately, while others, like France and Italy, only did so much later. Organizations within the women's rights movements adopted various strategies and addressed diverse issues beyond suffrage, such as property rights and roles in political activism.
The passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in the United States in 1920 was a momentous victory, proving the effectiveness of the movement. It established the right to vote irrespective of gender, setting a precedent for other nations to follow. Ultimately, it was the concerted efforts of generations of women and supportive allies that culminated in the broad enfranchisement of women during the 1920s