11.4 Suffrage at last

Reading focus In what ways were Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton a “bridge” to the twentieth-century suffrage movement? What two main strategies did suffrage leaders pursue? What was the status of the suffrage movement by the turn of the century? Why was a new generation of national leaders needed in this suffrage effort? What factors led to a final victory for suffrage?

Key Terms Civil Disobedience National American Women Suffrage Association (NAWSA) Congressional Union

Main Idea Demonstrating their skills as organizers and activists, women won the right to vote with the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920.

Setting the scene For nearly 70 years women’s groups had fought for their right to vote As the movement grew, so too did opposition to it. Men and Women from all walks of life opposed Thought it Unnecessary Threaten the stability of Society and Government Upset the status quo

Continued Anti-suffragists argued that women would become “too masculine.” What about factory work or farming? Would be too easily manipulated by politicians. What about the illiterate farmer/former slave

Anthony and stanton Suffragists faced discrimination and even violence First demanded the right in 1848 at the Seneca Fall Convention in New York (1st women’s right convention) Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton became the faces of the suffrage movement.

What they did 1866, they founded the American Equal Rights Association Began to publish the newspaper, The Revolution (Anthony and Stanton) National Woman Suffrage Association = fought for a constitutional amendment for suffrage. Federal Level

continued Another group, the American Woman Suffrage Association = worked at the state level to win voting rights. Evidence of their work = When Wyoming entered the union in 1890, it became the first state to grant women full suffrage.

Susan B. Anthony She and Father were abolitionists Founded her own temperance group Campaigned hard for schools to open doors to women/former slaves Fought for equal pay and 8 hr work days “Failure is impossible” - Anthony

Civil Disobedience 1872, Anthony led a group of women to the polls in Rochester, NY to vote. Was arrested for Civil Disobedience = nonviolent refusal to obey the law in an effort to change it. Student refusal of a test MLK Jr. Gandhi Was convicted and fined $100. Never paid the fine but was still released.

Civil Disobedience “The preamble of the Federal Constitution says: “We the people of the United States… It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we the, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union. And we formed it, not to give the blessings of liberty, but to secure them; not to the half of ourselves and the half of our posterity, but to the whole people – women as well as man.” - Anthony

Suffragist strategies Two approaches Press for a Constitutional Amendment Get the individual states to let women vote Worked well with western states, greater sense of equality because of all the shared duties. Pushing for the Constitutional Amendment was the more difficult approach. Bill failed time and time again, but the “Anthony Amendment,” 1878, 1887-1896, 1913.

Suffrage at the turn of the century Suffrage veterans such as Stanton and Anthony joined forces with younger leaders and in 1890 formed the National American Women Suffrage Association (NAWSA). By the time this group was formed, women had some rights (property) but still no suffrage. 1890-1910 lost steam because of so many years of opposition, even with the push for progressive reform.

End of an era Stanton died in 1902 Anthony died in 1906 As a result, it was time for a new generation to take up the cause and create momentum for women’s suffrage. “Failure is impossible.” Anthony

New generation Carrie Chapman Catt carries the torch into the new century Heads the NAWSA from 1900-1904, 1915 Alice Paul/Lucy Burns take over the NAWSA committee working on the federal suffrage amendment. The two march on Washington DC and garner a lot of attention for their cause.

Split in the movement After her march on Washington DC, Paul splits away from the NAWSA and forms the Congressional Union, aka (CU). Called for an aggressive constitutional campaign. Planned to bypass existing state suffrage organizations and set up new ones. NAWSA opposed their actions/approaches and expelled them in 1914. The CU went on to hold militant protests demonstrating and burning an effigy of president Wilson who refused to back the suffrage movement. CU members were arrested and sent to prison where they held hunger strikes to protest prison conditions.

nawsa Continued to support the state suffrage efforts. East coast: NY, Penn, Mass, and NJ (1915:all failed) Carrie Chapman Catt was then reinstated as NAWSA president and given free rein to bring about victory. Out of this challenge came her “Winning Plan.”

A “winning plan” Wanted a group of full-time leaders of suffrage campaigns over the next 6 years. Also focused on getting Congress to re-introduce the federal suffrage amendment. By 1917 the organization had 2 million members which was the largest volunteer org. 1917 NY state voted for women’s suffrage. Many electoral votes so women were important.

Impact of wwi USA enters the war in April 1917 Women rush to help Volunteer ambulance corps Medical work Jobs left by men gone to fight 18th amendment passes prohibiting liquor sales and as a result liquor interests no longer fought suffrage. Separate spheres for the sexes disappeared during wartime.

Victory at last… 1918 Congress formally proposed the suffrage amendment Thanks to: NAWSA Alice Paul and the CU (prison condition embarrassment) Battle for ratification (approval) begins. In 1920, Tennessee becomes the 36th state needed to ratify the amendment. The 19th amendment is the last major reform of the Progressive Era.