In 1872, Susan B. Anthony, a prominent leader in the women's suffrage movement, made a bold statement by attempting to vote in the presidential election. On November 5, she and several other women registered to vote in Rochester, New York. They believed that, under the provisions of the 14th Amendment, they had the constitutional right to do so. Anthony, despite the risk of legal repercussions, exercised her right to vote and cast her ballot for Ulysses S. Grant. This act of defiance caught the attention of authorities, and she was subsequently arrested and charged with voting illegally.

Following her arrest, Anthony was tried in June 1873. During the trial, she argued passionately for women's rights and asserted the validity of her vote based on constitutional principles. Despite her compelling rationale, the judge instructed the jury to convict her. The verdict was guilty, and she was fined $100, a sentence Anthony defiantly refused to pay. Her trial drew significant public attention and sparked further discussion on women's suffrage, highlighting the struggles women faced in their fight for equal rights under the law.

Anthony's act of civil disobedience became a rallying cry for the women's rights movement, further energizing advocates for suffrage across the nation. The case illustrated not only the legal obstacles women encountered in voting but also the broader societal resistance to women's rights. While her conviction was a setback, it galvanized support for the suffrage movement, leading to increased activism and the eventual ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920. Anthony’s actions during this period highlighted the necessity for systemic change and set the stage for future generations of women fighting for their rights.