The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) passed the U.S. Senate on March 22, 1972, successfully completing its journey through Congress and moving on to the states for ratification. This historic amendment, which had been in development for nearly 50 years, was created to guarantee equal legal rights for all Americans, regardless of sex.

In 1923, Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman, key figures in the women’s suffrage movement, introduced the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Their goal was simple and revolutionary: to enshrine gender equality in the U.S. Constitution. Despite decades of advocacy, the amendment faced significant delays in Congress. However, the unwavering determination of the women’s movement, which gained momentum in the 1960s, helped to build support for the ERA, leading to a breakthrough. In 1971, Representative Martha Griffiths successfully pushed the amendment through the House of Representatives. The Senate followed suit on March 22, 1972, passing the ERA with overwhelming support. The core message of the ERA was clear: “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”

After passage in Congress, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) needed ratification by 38 states to become law. Initially, momentum was strong, as 22 states ratified the ERA within the first year. However, the journey was not without challenges. Opposition soon emerged, with critics arguing that the amendment could lead to unintended consequences, such as women being drafted into the military and the elimination of certain legal protections for women. Conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly became the face of the anti-ERA movement, mobilizing opposition across the country. By 1982, the deadline for ratification had expired, leaving the ERA three states short of the required 38-state threshold.

Although the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) never became law, efforts to revive it are ongoing. In recent years, there have been signs of hope. Nevada ratified the amendment in 2017, followed by Illinois in 2018 and Virginia in 2020. These recent ratifications have reignited debates over whether the original ratification process is still valid. As a result, discussions about the future of the ERA have been renewed, bringing optimism for its potential enactment.