HILLARY FOR PRESIDENT Hillary Rodham Clinton stood behind the podium at a rally in Brooklyn New York The huge room was filled with supporters They cheered and waved flags and signs The date was June 6 2016 Clinton was giving a victory speech She had just made history She won enough votes to be the Democratic Party candidate for US president It would be the first time a woman had become the nominee of a major party Clinton thanked the people for their votes She spoke about nearby Seneca Falls In 1848 the first women’s rights convention was held Hillary Clinton delivers her acceptance speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia Pennsylvania 5
BECOMING A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE Every four years Americans vote for their next president Only one candidate from each major party runs in the November election Others may run as independent candidates During the first half of the year states hold primary elections and caucuses At these events people vote for their favorite candidates within each party Delegates are chosen to go to national conventions The delegates vote to decide each party’s official nominee there At the time only white men could vote After that first meeting activists kept fighting for equal rights Finally the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was passed by Congress on June 4 1919 and ratified on August 18 1920 It gave women the right to vote Clinton said she would work to make a better world for everyone She urged the crowd to work with her She gave her mother credit for inspiring her to serve others Suffragettes who had worked to get voting rights for women celebrated the passing of the 19th Amendment 6
