This map is part of a powerful campaign poster to support the Women Suffrage Movement in the United States. To underline the slogan 'Votes for Women a Success: North America proves it', it shows the different stages of female suffrage in the U.S. states and declares the Canadian states of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario as exemplary, as they allow women full suffrage. Criticising, that the majority of states in the United States still decline women suffrage, they raise the question "How long will the Republic of the United States lag behind the Monarchy of Canada?". The envy between both North American states is therefore used to serve the Suffragettes goal. Likewise, the map is divided in black (no suffrage) and white (full suffrage) states, using the symbolic associations of both colours.

Following the 1917 map, the National Woman Suffrage Publishing Company published another map in 1919, which is known as the 'Victory Map' (e.g. Boston Public Library). Although 12 out of 48 states still did not allow female suffrage at all, the map celebrates the achievement of 15 full female suffrage states and partial suffrage in the remaining ones. In 1920, the situation was simplified by including female suffrage in the U.S. constitution. The passage "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex" frees women from the dependence on the state they are living in and gives suffrage to all women.