Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) was an American politician, diplomat, activist and a First Lady who became one of the most loved women of her generation.She had an unhappy childhood, suffering the deaths of both parents and one of her brothers at a young age. She attended a school in England and developed self-confidence. In 1995 she married Franklin Delano Roosevelt and she had six children.

In Albany, where Franklin served in the state Senate from 1910 to 1913, Eleanor started her long career as political helpmate. She gained knowledge of Washington and its ways while he served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy. She became active in the women's division of the State Democratic Committee to keep his interest in politics alive. From his successful campaign for governor in 1928 to the day of his death, she dedicated her life to his purposes.

Roosevelt was a controversial First Lady for her outspokenness, particularly her stance on racial issues. She understood social conditions better than any of her predecessors and she transformed the role of First Lady because she did press conferences and travelled all over the country. She had an important role during the Second World War visiting head of states and supporting the troops. 

Years later, Eleanor served as a delegate to the United Nations General Assembly. She also became chair of the UN's Human Rights Commission. As a member of the Human Rights Commission, she helped to write the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 
https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/first-ladies/eleanorroosevelt

Jeannette Rankin (June 11, 1880 – May 18, 1973)

The role of Jeannette Rankin in the history of America has been greatly overseen. She became the first woman to hold a high government office in the United States when, in 1916, she was elected to the United States Congress from the state of Montana. After winning her House seat, she said, “I may be the first woman member of Congress but I won’t be the last”.

Politician, member of the U.S. House of Representatives and social activist Jeannette Rankin was born on June 11, 1880, near Missoula, Montana. Jeannette Rankin made history as the first woman to serve in the U.S. Congress. One of seven children, she was the daughter of a rancher and a schoolteacher. After earning a degree in biology in 1902, Rankin followed in her mother's footsteps briefly, working as a teacher. Jeanette Rankin tried several more careers, including seamstress and social worker.

Jeannette had a lifelong pacifist; she thought that women should have a bigger role than what other people thought women should have. Women would have strikes and go on marches to prove that they should have rights just like everyone else. She faced discrimination like and other race that faced it. Women would voice their opinion in any way possible so that they could reach their goal and they did.

Rankin’s two terms in Congress coincided with U.S. entry into both World Wars. An ardent pacifist, Rankin voted against the United States entering World War I. The war resolution measure was passed by Congress 374 to 50. During the war, she fought for the rights of women working in the war effort. Rankin also created women's rights legislation and helped pass the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Congress, granting women the right to vote.

Jeannette Rankin made a return to politics in 1939. Running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, she won the election in part based on her antiwar position. Even the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, could not dissuade Rankin from her pacifist stance and she voted against entering the war. By this time, much of the public's antiwar sentiment had given way to anger and outrage over the attack on U.S. soil. This time, the war resolution passed 388 votes –1. Her no vote was cast amid “a chorus of hisses and boos.”

Rankin was a leader and helped women fight for her rights. She is known as one of the greatest women of the 20th century for her actions as a humanitarian and civic leader. Thanks her, things are a bit easier on the working woman today.

http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Jeannette_Rankin.aspx

 http://history.house.gov/People/Listing/R/RANKIN,-Jeannette-%28R000055%29/

http://www.biography.com/people/jeannette-rankin-9451806