American suffragists designed the ERA in the 1920s as away to guarantee equal rights for women under the United States Constitution. In 1972, after nearly 50 years of political strife, the ERA passed both houses of Congress; however, the states were unable to ratify the proposed amendment. To this day, 11 states have adopted constitutions or amendments, reminiscent of the ERA, to grant equal rights regardless of sex.

These states include Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland,Montana, Oregon, Utah,and Wyoming.

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