Week 7 Reflection: Hand Us that VOTE

The 14th amendment was only the beginning in the process of paving the way for women's rights in the late 18th and early 19th century. There were two specific groups that opposed to including women in the 15th amendment, which stated the right to vote would not be denied on the account of race, color, or prior slavery. The National Women’s Suffrage Association, which was led by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Stanton, opposed to women being included. While the American Women’s Suffrage Association, led by Lucy Stone, supported women being included.  in 1890 both groups merged to create the NAWSA. African American women also saw fit to join the fight for women’s right but were often still treated differently because of their race. However, they continued to stand for women’s right because they wanted to be included in the overall results and not be left out had white women been successful in this fight. 

Carrie Chapman Catt

Alice Paul

Carrie Chapman Catt was an early 20th century radical leader. She along with others believed that women should work hard and support the war effort during WW1. Therefore, the United States would have no choice but to grant them the right to the vote when it was all said and done. Catt composed a new strategy, “Winning Plan”, that was based upon state laws that would give women the vote and for the ratification of an amendment to the U.S constitution. Alice Paul was another radical leader who formed the National Women’s Party, which was a rival of the NAWSA, focused on only gaining the vote. In 1916, they began to picket at the White House while President Wilson was in office. Many picketers were harassed and beaten by civilians who passed by. The police didn’t make efforts to protect them, nor did the president. President Wilson eventually took action and had the picketers arrest in July of 1917. They were arrested on charges of “obstructing traffic”. About 1268 picketers were sent to prison. While in prison, Alice Paul led a hunger strike that lasted a little over 5 weeks. The guards had to force fed the inmates. After other prisoners joined the strike resulting in eight of them dying, President Wilson had them released. 

New York was the first state that gave women the right to vote in November of 1917. The following year Wilson made efforts to support the movement due to his on personal vendetta. He needed the women's vote in order to remain in office and he figured if he was the force behind granting them this privilege, they would automatically vote for him in the upcoming election. After that Michigan, Oklahoma and South Dakota gave women the vote. The vote to grant women’s suffrage barely made the cut in the house of representatives and needed a 2/3 majority vote in the Senate. In 1919, the Senate sent the 19th amendment to the states for ratification. The amendment had to be ratified by 36 states. West Virginia Washington were the 34th and 35th states to ratify. Tennessee was the last state to ratify amendment finally became law in 1920 making the United States the 27th country granting women the right to vote.  

Giving women the vote made a difference in many ways. When it came to children, heath care, and education, women were more likely see these topics as a priority. Many women showed concern for social issues that reflected their political influence.  

Mintz, S., & McNeil, S. (2018). 

Digital History : Closing The Western Frontier

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