What landmark legislation granted women the right to vote?

The 19th Amendment is the landmark legislation that granted women the right to vote in the United States. Ratified on August 18, 1920, this amendment states that the right to vote shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex. It was the culmination of a long and hard-fought struggle by women's suffrage activists who advocated for equal voting rights for women, highlighting the importance of gender equality in the democratic process.

Understanding the significance of the 19th Amendment also places it in context with the other options. The Civil Rights Act, while pivotal in outlawing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, came later and focused more broadly on civil rights. The Voting Rights Act primarily aimed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting, particularly in the southern states, and was enacted in 1965. Finally, the Equal Pay Act addressed wage disparities between men and women, focusing on equal pay for equal work, but did not pertain to voting rights. Each of these pieces of legislation plays a crucial role in civil rights, but the 19th Amendment specifically secured women's suffrage.