July 18, 2009

 

July 18, 1920-

The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing women the right to vote, was ratified by Tennessee, giving it the two-thirds majority of state ratification necessary to make it the law of the land.

 

July 18, 1960-

The first commercially produced oral contraceptives went on the market.

 

July 18, 1963-

James Meredith graduated from the University of Mississippi. He was the first African-American to attend the school and his enrollment touched off deadly riots, necessitating the use of armed guards.