THE MOVE TO FREEDOM

    The right for women to vote, commonly known as woman suffrage, has been an international dilemma for much of the late 19th and early 20th century. Women didn't begin to vote until the early 1900's with a few exceptions, but these were always faced with much opposition. Those who supported the cause were known collectively as suffragists. For much of colonial America the right to vote belonged solely to white men who owned property. With time it was extended to include all white men and later in 1868 it was extended once again to include black men. However, there was still one group of people left standing without this right and these were the women.

    The fight for woman suffrage had existed for some time already; Abigail Adams reminded the president, her husband John Adams, to "remember the ladies" in the new code of laws being ratified in 1776, but it wasn't until the mid-1800's that it begun to pick up momentum and popularize among the women as the notion of equality increased in strength. As women started to gain more education and take a greater part in politics they began to ask why they weren't allowed to vote. This brought upon a succession of movements for woman suffrage. Those leading the early part of the movement included Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton among others. They organized the first Women's Rights convention in Seneca Falls, N.Y., where it adopted the Declaration of Sentiments that called for equality among men and women in all aspects of life: education, voting, and other matters.

    After the Civil War enfranchisement was regarded as the most important of their goals because the felt that after gaining the right to vote they could use that as a way to gain other rights. However, everyone didn’t share these feelings. Many opposed the notion of enfranchisement and argued that men could represent their wives better than they could themselves. Others felt that if women participated in politics family life would deteriorate. Those opposed sought to destroy this possibility.

    In 1869 two organizations for women suffrage were founded. The National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) led by Stanton and Susan B. Anthony called for a 16th amendment that would enfranchise women. Opposed to the 15th amendment, amendment that gave right to black men, they radicalized and promoted a variety of feminist reforms. Susan B. Anthony was arrested and fined for voting illegally and attracted attention to her trial with the slogan "Resistance to Tyranny is Obedience to God."

    The American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA) led by Lucy Stone endorsed the 15th amendment and supported a federal amendment for female enfranchisement. They concentrated on developing a state-level organization gaining state support one at a time promoted by its Woman's Journal. Less radical than their counterpart, they sought for gradual change.

    Both movements united in 1890 to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) which was a turning point in the movement for women suffrage. They concentrated their efforts in gaining support within the states winning enough of state suffrages to ratify a federal amendment. In 1893 Colorado adopted women suffrage after Utah had adopted it in 1869. Idaho joined in 1896. By 1920, 15 states made part of this union.

    During the 1900's a new generation of activists emerged and became leaders bringing a fresh spirit to this age-old movement. Among them included radicals such as Alice Paul, Lucy Burns, and Stanton's daughter Harriot Blatch. This group took to the streets in protest by marching, picketing, and in one instance chaining themselves to the fence of the White House. They were often arrested, and many went on hunger strikes.

    These movements went on for years until 1920 when Congress for the first time passed the Woman Suffrage Amendment, Amendment 19, after 40 years of striking the bill down. So in August 26, 1920 the Nineteenth Amendment was officially added to the United States Constitution and a wave of excitement sweep the suffragists that hot summer day for they had obtained what they had worked for a long time.

    Because of this great accomplishment by early century women, modern day women now have a chance to vote and to express their opinions in the modern world political scene. This amendment has not only affected women, but has carried over to affect society as a whole. Whereas before only powerful white individuals could mold the political system how they pleased, now women and minorities can express their opinions and cast votes contributing to a more democratic society than before.

ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF WOMEN SUFFRAGE

LINKS TO OTHER GREAT SITES ABOUT THE MOVEMENT

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