The first paragraph of the 14th Amendment would seem to grant rights to ALL citizens. However this is a federal document and the right to vote is up to the several states. Even though it says the states may not deprive anyone, they spent decades trying to do just that. Women found ways of exploiting local laws that did not prohibit their voting, until the laws were then changed. The Wisconsin Territory, however allowed women the vote in 1869. Colorado men voted in 1893 to allow women to vote. Utah and Idaho followed in 1895 and 96. Large groups of women worked in local communities and states to raise awareness and very slowly sentiments changed.
http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst_Am14.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_women%27s_suffrage_in_the_United_States
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