Hawaii Women Voted in 1840
photograph by Menzies Dickson
Hawaiian women diplomats
Treaty with France
In July 1837 the King of Hawaii and his top political advisors negotiated with the French. King Kamehameha III is seated in the center of the room in a chair and sitting on his left is his Prime Minister Elizabeth Kina‘u. French Captain A. DuPetit Thouras of The Venus represents the government of France. The Hawaiian government brought about a dozen high ranking officials into the conference and it appears half of the Ali‘i are women. The diplomatic meeting resulted in a treaty granting protection to French subjects in Hawai‘i and reciprocal protection to Hawaiian citizens in France. France opened a diplomatic post in Hawaii and the Hawaiian Kingdom established an embassy in Paris.
This 1837 Convention between the two countries was the first of four treaties with France. Hawaiian women participated in these high level diplomatic negotiations.
The French artist who drew the picture exposed his racism. His prejudice comes through when he shows the French military sitting ram-rod-straight in their chairs, while the Hawaiian side has representatives lazily lying about not paying attention. Sadly, this stereotype still exists today.
In 1837 the literacy rate in the Hawaiian Kingdom was one of the highest in the world at 95%. The literacy rate was lower in France, at approximately 40% for men and 22% for women. French women were finally allowed to vote after the war in 1945. This political right for French women was gained 105 years after Hawaiian women.
Lithograph by Masseot, courtesy of the Bishop Museum, Honolulu.
Hawaii women had political rights 80 years before USA
It took American women 72 years to win the right to vote. From Seneca Falls in 1848 until ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920. Women had to battle a male-dominant society that viewed females as inferior and lacking the intelligence to vote.
Honolulu Star Bulletin August 30, 1920
Women arrived early at the clerk's office to register to vote.
Mrs. McGregor registered after the doors opened at midnight on August 30, 1920.
HISTORIC VOTER TURNOUT 2020
