Final answer:
Women in the United States gained the legal right to obtain credit cards independently in 1974 through the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which addressed gender discrimination in financial matters.
Step-by-step explanation:
Women in the United States gained the right to get credit cards on their own, separate from their husbands, in 1974. This was the result of Congress passing the Equal Credit Opportunity Act in that year. Before this act, women faced significant discrimination when seeking financial independence, often requiring a husband's approval for loans and not considering a married woman's income when making loan decisions.