This is an historic election year. Hillary Clinton, a Democrat, became the first woman to be nominated for president by a major party. She will be an amazing president after she crushes Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in November.
Just for Hillary, I would like to bring you a list of some female leaders in history. These were some very badass ladies!
1. Queen Elizabeth I
She was the ultimate badass queen. The daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, at the age of two, she lost her mother after the king called for her beheading. In 1558, she took the throne after a rebellion against her sister, Queen Mary.
She grew up dealing with her father’s divorces and other marriage struggles, so she never married. She was a great diplomat, a patron of the arts, and a pioneer in women’s fashion. She died in 1603, which ended the rule of the house of Tudor.
She took on the role of Queen of England at 25 years of age. Many people in Europe considered her illegitimate because she was removed from the succession after her mom died. She was told to marry quickly and lean on her husband, but she didn’t do that.
Her stepmother made sure that Elizabeth was educated. When she finally became Queen, Elizabeth ruled for a very prosperous 44 years.
2. Cleopatra
Cleopatra was the last ruler of the Macedonian Dynasty; her family ruled Egypt for 100 years before she was born. Cleopatra assembled her own army to defeat Ptolemy XIII. She fought and overthrew her brother.
Cleopatra ruled as a co-regent for 30 years with first her brothers, and then with her son. She was very well educated, and she is known for her affairs with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. She used her powers of seduction to win back parts of her empire, and she had those male leaders wrapped around her little finger.
3. Indira Gandhi
"Forgiveness is a virtue of the brave." – Indira Gandhi #quotes pic.twitter.com/wICWyiWGuF
— Susan Dolan (@GoogleExpertUK) August 15, 2016
Indira Gandhi was born in 1917; she was the only child of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. After her father’s successor died, she was appointed the Prime Minister in 1966. She was a strong leader, and her agricultural programs helped the poor people of the country.
Many people were surprised that she led with such a strong hand. She got rid of many high-ranking officials. She dealt with the Indo-Pakistani War in 1971. She met with Pakistan’s leader, and they signed a treaty. It ended up creating the nation of Bangladesh.
Although her married name is shared with Mahatma Gandhi, they were not related through blood or marriage.
4. Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher woman became England’s first female Prime Minister in 1979. Her first foray into politics was in 1950 when she ran for a Parliament seat. In 1959, she won a seat in the House of Commons. Thatcher ruled during the Falklands War. She used the power of the British military to win back territory over there.
In 1984, she dealt with an assassination attempt. She was supposed to be killed by a bomb at the Conservative Conference in Brighton in October. The day after the bombing, she still went to the conference and gave her speech. She was fearless.
She resigned in 1991 because her policies were unpopular. Whether you liked her or not, she was fierce in a political field dominated by men. She passed away in 2013.
5. Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel became the first female Chancellor of Germany in 2005. She began another term in 2009. The Encyclopedia Britannica said:
“Merkel’s style of government has been characterized by pragmatism, although critics have decried her approach as the absence of a clear stance and ideology.”
After the Fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Merkel joined the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). She advanced in her party and became the first female Chancellor of Germany in 2005. She was the first woman to rule the united German nation.
6. Ann Richards
This lady was the Democratic Governor of Texas from 1991 to 1995. When she died in 2006, New York Times columnist Anna Quindlen said:
“She made them listen and she made them listen good, with precisely those qualities that we often try to iron out of politicians in general and female politicians in particular: a sense of fun, irreverence and general cussedness.”
At the 1988 Democratic National Convention, she ribbed then Vice President George H.W. Bush when she said:
“Poor George. He can’t help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth.”
Do you want to learn about more female leaders? Check out this countdown.
Featured Image: Screenshot Via YouTube Video.
