Votes for WomenVotes for WomenThe Path to Women’s SuffrageThe Path to Women’s Suffrage

By Leigh UnterspanBy Leigh Unterspan

In 1776 Abigail In 1776 Abigail Adams wrote to her Adams wrote to her husband, John husband, John Adams, who was Adams, who was working on the working on the Declaration of Declaration of Independence.Independence.

She asked that he She asked that he “remember the “remember the ladies.”ladies.”

The Declaration The Declaration said that “all said that “all menmen are created equal.”are created equal.”

Abigail Adams

Lucretia MottLucretia Mott

In 1837 she In 1837 she organized the first organized the first convention of the convention of the National Female National Female Anti-Slavery Society.Anti-Slavery Society.

Earlier Mott had Earlier Mott had been denied been denied membership in anti-membership in anti-slavery societies slavery societies because she was a because she was a woman.woman.

Women go to collegeWomen go to college In 1833, Oberlin College became the In 1833, Oberlin College became the

first coeducational college in the US.first coeducational college in the US. In 1837, Mount Holyoke College was In 1837, Mount Holyoke College was

founded, the first four year college founded, the first four year college for women only.for women only.

Vassar (1837), Wellesley (1875) and Vassar (1837), Wellesley (1875) and Smith (1875) Colleges followed, Smith (1875) Colleges followed, which were all colleges created for which were all colleges created for women only. women only.

July 19-20, 1848July 19-20, 1848 The first women’s The first women’s

rights convention in rights convention in the US is held in the US is held in Seneca Falls, New Seneca Falls, New York.York.

Lucretia MottLucretia Mott and and Elizabeth Cady Elizabeth Cady StantonStanton were the were the primary organizers.primary organizers.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Signed a Signed a “Declaration of “Declaration of Sentiments and Sentiments and Resolutions”Resolutions” that that outlined the main outlined the main goals for the goals for the women’s rights women’s rights movement.movement.This is a copy of This is a copy of the names of the the names of the original signers of original signers of the declaration.the declaration.

First women’s rights convention

Sojourner Sojourner TruthTruth

A former slave who took up the cause for A former slave who took up the cause for women’s rights.women’s rights.

In 1851 she delivered her famous “Ain’t I A In 1851 she delivered her famous “Ain’t I A Woman” speech at a women’s convention.Woman” speech at a women’s convention.

““American Democracy has interpreted American Democracy has interpreted the Declaration of Independence in the the Declaration of Independence in the interest of slavery, restricting suffrage interest of slavery, restricting suffrage and citizenship to a white male and citizenship to a white male minority. The black man is still denied minority. The black man is still denied the right of citizenship, even in the the right of citizenship, even in the nominally free States….Half our nominally free States….Half our population are disfranchised on the population are disfranchised on the grounds of sex; and though compelled grounds of sex; and though compelled to obey the law and taxed to support to obey the law and taxed to support the government, they have no voice in the government, they have no voice in the legislation of the country.”the legislation of the country.”

--Sojourner Truth--Sojourner TruthAt a meeting of theAt a meeting of the

Equal Rights AssociationEqual Rights Association18671867

Civil WarCivil War1861-18651861-1865

The war interrupted women’s The war interrupted women’s suffrage activities as women worked suffrage activities as women worked for various war causes.for various war causes.

Their work, however, helped them to Their work, however, helped them to develop organizational and other develop organizational and other skills that would help them in their skills that would help them in their suffrage work later.suffrage work later.

American Equal American Equal Rights Rights

AssociationAssociation Formed in 1866 by Formed in 1866 by

Stanton and Susan Stanton and Susan B. AnthonyB. Anthony

This was an This was an organization for organization for white and black white and black women and men women and men dedicated to dedicated to universal suffrage.universal suffrage.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B.

Anthony

Fourteenth AmendmentFourteenth Amendment

Passed in 1868Passed in 1868 Protected all citizens from unjust Protected all citizens from unjust

state laws.state laws. Defined the terms Defined the terms citizens citizens and and votersvoters

as as malemale..

Women’s groups splitWomen’s groups split In 1869, the women’s In 1869, the women’s

rights movement split rights movement split into two groups into two groups because of because of disagreements.disagreements.

Stanton and Anthony Stanton and Anthony formed the more formed the more radical National radical National Woman Suffrage Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA).Association (NWSA).

Stanton and Anthony

Women’s groups splitWomen’s groups split Lucy Stone, Henry Lucy Stone, Henry

Blackwell and Julia Blackwell and Julia Ward Howe Ward Howe formed the more formed the more conservative conservative American Woman American Woman Suffrage Suffrage Association Association (AWSA).(AWSA).

Julia Ward Howe

“ “If ‘all political power is If ‘all political power is inherent in the people,’ why inherent in the people,’ why have women, who are more have women, who are more than half the population of the than half the population of the United States, no political United States, no political existence? Is it because they existence? Is it because they are not people?”are not people?”

--Lucy Stone--Lucy StoneIn an address to theIn an address to the

New Jersey legislatureNew Jersey legislature18671867

WyomingWyoming

In 1890 becomes a state with a In 1890 becomes a state with a woman’s suffrage provision intact.woman’s suffrage provision intact.

First state to grant suffrage to First state to grant suffrage to womenwomen

Women on the moveWomen on the move

The AWSA begins publishing the The AWSA begins publishing the Woman’s JournalWoman’s Journal in 1870, a in 1870, a publication dedicated to women’s publication dedicated to women’s rights.rights.

Several women attempt to use the Several women attempt to use the Fourteenth Amendment to vote Fourteenth Amendment to vote between 1870 and 1875, but all are between 1870 and 1875, but all are unsuccessful.unsuccessful.

Women on the moveWomen on the move

In 1872, Susan B. Anthony is arrested In 1872, Susan B. Anthony is arrested for attempting to vote in a for attempting to vote in a presidential election.presidential election.

In the same year, Sojourner Truth In the same year, Sojourner Truth attempts to vote, but she is denied a attempts to vote, but she is denied a ballot.ballot.

Anthony’s trialAnthony’s trial

"Yes, your honor," seethed Anthony, "I "Yes, your honor," seethed Anthony, "I have many things to say; … My natural have many things to say; … My natural rights, my civil rights, my political rights, rights, my civil rights, my political rights, my judicial rights, are all alike ignored. my judicial rights, are all alike ignored. Robbed of the fundamental privilege of Robbed of the fundamental privilege of citizenship, I am degraded from the citizenship, I am degraded from the status of a citizen to that of a subject; status of a citizen to that of a subject; and not only myself individually, but all and not only myself individually, but all of my sex, are, by your honor's verdict, of my sex, are, by your honor's verdict, doomed to political subjection under doomed to political subjection under this, so-called, form of government."this, so-called, form of government."

Woman’s Suffrage Woman’s Suffrage AmendmentAmendment

Introduced to Congress in Introduced to Congress in 1878.1878.

When it is finally passed in When it is finally passed in 1919, the wording is 1919, the wording is unchanged.unchanged.

Belva Ann LockwoodBelva Ann Lockwood In 1879, Belva Ann In 1879, Belva Ann

Lockwood finally Lockwood finally secures for women secures for women the right to practice the right to practice law before the law before the Supreme Court.Supreme Court.

In 1884, she runs In 1884, she runs for president on the for president on the National Equal National Equal Rights Party ticket. Rights Party ticket. She wins 4,149 She wins 4,149 votes in six states.votes in six states. Belva Ann

Lockwood

Women UniteWomen Unite NWSA and AWSA reunite in 1890 as the NWSA and AWSA reunite in 1890 as the

National American Woman Suffrage National American Woman Suffrage Association, with Elizabeth Cady Association, with Elizabeth Cady Stanton as head.Stanton as head.

Hull HouseHull House

Founded by Jane Addams and Ellen Founded by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr in 1890.Gates Starr in 1890.

A settlement housing project in ChicagoA settlement housing project in Chicago Within one year, 100 settlement houses Within one year, 100 settlement houses

exist in the US, largely operated by exist in the US, largely operated by women.women.

Many women become involved in social Many women become involved in social work and become an important voice in work and become an important voice in American politics.American politics.

Woman’s Woman’s BibleBible

Written by Elizabeth Written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton in 1895Cady Stanton in 1895

Criticized the Criticized the treatment of women treatment of women in the Old Testamentin the Old Testament

An example of An example of Stanton’s more Stanton’s more radical views that radical views that caused NAWSA to caused NAWSA to separate itself from separate itself from her her A draft of the Bible

Roosevelt adoptsRoosevelt adoptswomen’s suffrage platformwomen’s suffrage platform

In 1912 Teddy Roosevelt’s In 1912 Teddy Roosevelt’s Progressive party becomes the Progressive party becomes the first national political party to first national political party to adopt a women’s suffrage plank.adopt a women’s suffrage plank.

1919thth Amendment Amendment

Adopted in 1920, this amendment Adopted in 1920, this amendment gives women the right to vote.gives women the right to vote.

NAWSA ceases to exist because its NAWSA ceases to exist because its mission has been accomplished, but mission has been accomplished, but members form the League of Women members form the League of Women Voters.Voters.

PhotoPhotoGalleryGallery

A woman’s scrapbook about suffrage activities

A suffrage parade in 1913

A suffrage march in New York City, 1913

An album cover from the period

Woman Suffrage Headquarters, 1912

A picket line in 1917

Two suffragists

CreditsCredits

All photos in this presentation are All photos in this presentation are courtesy of the American Memory courtesy of the American Memory

collectionscollections

of the Library of Congress.of the Library of Congress.

The song “A Woman’s Tongue Will Run The song “A Woman’s Tongue Will Run Forevermore” was recorded in 1940. It Forevermore” was recorded in 1940. It is also part of the American Memory is also part of the American Memory

collections of the Library of Congress. collections of the Library of Congress.