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Women’s SuffrageWomen’s Suffrage
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Alexis de Tocqueville: Alexis de Tocqueville: Democracy in AmericaDemocracy in America (1840) (1840)
Alexis de Tocqueville was a Alexis de Tocqueville was a French citizen who traveled to French citizen who traveled to America and wrote about his America and wrote about his observations of American culture observations of American culture and politics. and politics.
In In Democracy in America, Democracy in America, he he discusses how Americans viewed discusses how Americans viewed the equality of the sexes. the equality of the sexes.
Tocqueville acknowledged that Tocqueville acknowledged that women were not completely equal women were not completely equal in American society, but he also in American society, but he also claimed that they enjoyed greater claimed that they enjoyed greater equality here than in Europe.equality here than in Europe.
““Americans do not think that man Americans do not think that man and woman have either the duty or and woman have either the duty or the right to perform the same the right to perform the same offices, but they show an equal offices, but they show an equal regard for both their respective regard for both their respective parts; and though their lot is parts; and though their lot is different, they consider both of different, they consider both of them as beings of equal value.” them as beings of equal value.”
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The Seneca Falls Declaration The Seneca Falls Declaration (1848) (1848)
The Seneca Falls Declaration The Seneca Falls Declaration of 1848 outlined the women's of 1848 outlined the women's rights movement of the mid-rights movement of the mid-19th century. 19th century.
As can be seen in the opening As can be seen in the opening passages, the document was passages, the document was modeled after the Declaration modeled after the Declaration of Independence.of Independence.
“…“…We hold these truths to be We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and self-evident: that all men and womenwomen are created equal; that are created equal; that they are endowed by their they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure happiness; that to secure these rights governments are these rights governments are instituted, deriving their just instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the powers from the consent of the governed. “governed. “
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Susan B. Anthony: In Favor of Susan B. Anthony: In Favor of Women's Suffrage (1872) Women's Suffrage (1872)
In this speech, given following her In this speech, given following her arrest for attempting to vote in the arrest for attempting to vote in the 1872 election, Anthony argues 1872 election, Anthony argues that respect for America's that respect for America's fundamental principles requires fundamental principles requires that women be allowed to vote.that women be allowed to vote.
““In thus voting, I not only In thus voting, I not only committed no crime, but, instead, committed no crime, but, instead, simply exercised my citizen's right, simply exercised my citizen's right, guaranteed to me and all United guaranteed to me and all United States citizens by the National States citizens by the National Constitution, beyond the power of Constitution, beyond the power of any State to deny.”any State to deny.”
““It was we, the people, not we, the It was we, the people, not we, the white male citizens, nor yet we, white male citizens, nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed this whole people, who formed this Union. And we formed it, not to Union. And we formed it, not to give the blessings or liberty, but to give the blessings or liberty, but to secure them; not to the half of secure them; not to the half of ourselves and the half of our ourselves and the half of our posterity, but to the whole people-posterity, but to the whole people-women as well as men. “ women as well as men. “
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Agnes Nestor: Agnes Nestor: Working Her Working Her Fingers to the BoneFingers to the Bone (1898) (1898)
Beginning in the late 19th century, the rapid Beginning in the late 19th century, the rapid increase in the number of women in the work increase in the number of women in the work force reflected a significant shift in the role and force reflected a significant shift in the role and status of women in American culture. status of women in American culture.
As women become more economically As women become more economically empowered, their methods and scope of empowered, their methods and scope of organization also became increasingly more organization also became increasingly more apparent and often tied to labor disputes. apparent and often tied to labor disputes.
Such disputes often provided the impetus for Such disputes often provided the impetus for organized movements to achieve suffrage with organized movements to achieve suffrage with the general understanding that political influence the general understanding that political influence would provide women with greater protection in would provide women with greater protection in the work place. the work place.
Agnes Nestor was a factory worker who played a Agnes Nestor was a factory worker who played a substantial role in the emerging women's labor substantial role in the emerging women's labor movement. movement.
This reminiscence by Nestor described how the This reminiscence by Nestor described how the oppressive conditions of the glove factory pushed oppressive conditions of the glove factory pushed her to take a leading role in a successful strike of her to take a leading role in a successful strike of female glove workers in 1898. female glove workers in 1898.
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Alice Stone Blackwell: The Alice Stone Blackwell: The Military Argument (1897) Military Argument (1897)
Alice Stone Blackwell made a strong Alice Stone Blackwell made a strong argument against the connection argument against the connection between eligibility for serving in the between eligibility for serving in the armed forces and suffrage.armed forces and suffrage.
“’ “’ The insuperable objection to woman The insuperable objection to woman suffrage is fundamental and functional, suffrage is fundamental and functional, and Nature alone is responsible for it, and Nature alone is responsible for it, since she has created man combatant since she has created man combatant and woman non-combatant.’ If this and woman non-combatant.’ If this theory were correct, all men who can theory were correct, all men who can fight would be admitted to the ballot fight would be admitted to the ballot box, and all men who cannot fight box, and all men who cannot fight would be excluded.” would be excluded.”
““It must be rendered that if women do It must be rendered that if women do not render military service, they do not render military service, they do render equivalent service to their render equivalent service to their country in another way, since it is the country in another way, since it is the women who bring all the soldiers into women who bring all the soldiers into the world. This ought in all fairness to the world. This ought in all fairness to be taken as an offset for the military be taken as an offset for the military service which is not required for them.”service which is not required for them.”
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Women’s Suffrage Map Women’s Suffrage Map
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Headquarters of an Anti-Suffrage Headquarters of an Anti-Suffrage Group (c.1910) Group (c.1910)
Opposition to the goal of women’s suffrage came from many arenas. Some Opposition to the goal of women’s suffrage came from many arenas. Some objected because they believed that women would only duplicate the voting objected because they believed that women would only duplicate the voting of their husbands, while others believed that women were unable to exert of their husbands, while others believed that women were unable to exert the rational thought that voting required. the rational thought that voting required.
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Anti-Suffrage Pamphlet (c.1910)Anti-Suffrage Pamphlet (c.1910) ““Housewives! Housewives!
You do not need a ballot to clean out You do not need a ballot to clean out your sink spout. A handful of potash your sink spout. A handful of potash and some boiling water is quicker and and some boiling water is quicker and cheaper…cheaper…
Why vote for pure food laws, when Why vote for pure food laws, when your husband does that, while you can your husband does that, while you can purify your Ice-box with saleratus purify your Ice-box with saleratus water?”water?”
““Vote Vote NO on Woman SuffrageNO on Woman Suffrage BECAUSE 90% of the women either BECAUSE 90% of the women either
do not want it, or do not want it, or do not care.do not care. BECAUSE it means BECAUSE it means competitioncompetition of of
women with men instead of women with men instead of co-co-operationoperation..
BECAUSE 80% of the women eligible BECAUSE 80% of the women eligible to vote are married and can only to vote are married and can only double or annul their husband’s double or annul their husband’s votes…votes…
BECAUSE in some States more voting BECAUSE in some States more voting women than voting men will place the women than voting men will place the Government under petticoat rule.Government under petticoat rule.
BECAUSE it is unwise to risk the good BECAUSE it is unwise to risk the good we already have for the evil which may we already have for the evil which may occur. “occur. “
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Alice Miller: Alice Miller: Why We Don't Want Why We Don't Want Men to VoteMen to Vote (1915) (1915)
Alice Miller was a prominent writer who Alice Miller was a prominent writer who often expounded on topics relevant to often expounded on topics relevant to women. Here she satirizes the women. Here she satirizes the viewpoints of many men who wanted to viewpoints of many men who wanted to deny women the right to vote. deny women the right to vote.
““Why We Don't Want Men to Vote Why We Don't Want Men to Vote Because man's place is in the army. Because man's place is in the army. Because no really manly man wants to Because no really manly man wants to
settle any question otherwise than by settle any question otherwise than by fighting about it. fighting about it.
Because if men should adopt peaceable Because if men should adopt peaceable methods women will no longer look up to methods women will no longer look up to them. them.
Because men will lose their charm if they Because men will lose their charm if they step out of their natural sphere and step out of their natural sphere and interest themselves in other matters than interest themselves in other matters than feats of arms, uniforms, and drums. feats of arms, uniforms, and drums.
Because men are too emotional to vote. Because men are too emotional to vote. Their conduct at baseball games and Their conduct at baseball games and political conventions shows this, while political conventions shows this, while their innate tendency to appeal to force their innate tendency to appeal to force renders them unfit for government.”renders them unfit for government.”
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"Kaiser Wilson""Kaiser Wilson" During World War I, militant During World War I, militant
suffragists, demanding that suffragists, demanding that President Wilson reverse President Wilson reverse his opposition to a federal his opposition to a federal amendment, stood vigil at amendment, stood vigil at the White House and the White House and carried banners such as this carried banners such as this one comparing the one comparing the President to Kaiser Wilhelm President to Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany.II of Germany.
In the heated patriotic In the heated patriotic climate of wartime, such climate of wartime, such tactics met with hostility and tactics met with hostility and sometimes violence and sometimes violence and arrest. arrest.
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Carrie Chapman Catt: Carrie Chapman Catt: Do you Do you know?know? (1918) (1918)
This work was intended to inform about the This work was intended to inform about the status of women’s suffrage across the status of women’s suffrage across the globe and point out how far behind globe and point out how far behind America was up to that point in time. America was up to that point in time.
Catt also stressed the importance of Catt also stressed the importance of suffrage for women working to secure their suffrage for women working to secure their rights as citizens.rights as citizens.
““DO YOU KNOWDO YOU KNOW that the movement for that the movement for woman suffrage is just a part of the eternal woman suffrage is just a part of the eternal forward march of the human race toward a forward march of the human race toward a complete democracy; that in the American complete democracy; that in the American colonies only a very small proportion of the colonies only a very small proportion of the men could vote; that even after the men could vote; that even after the Revolution only property-holders could Revolution only property-holders could vote; that it was only by slow and hard-vote; that it was only by slow and hard-fought stage that all men finally won the fought stage that all men finally won the right to vote; and that in most foreign right to vote; and that in most foreign countries the franchise for men is still countries the franchise for men is still heavily loaded with restrictions?...heavily loaded with restrictions?...
DO YOU KNOWDO YOU KNOW one single sound, logical one single sound, logical reason why the intelligence and reason why the intelligence and individuality of women should not entitle individuality of women should not entitle them to the rights and privileges of self-them to the rights and privileges of self-government?”government?”
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Women's Voting RightsWomen's Voting Rights
Possibly the biggest change in the political landscape of the 20th century has been Possibly the biggest change in the political landscape of the 20th century has been the enfranchisement of women. When the century began, only one small country the enfranchisement of women. When the century began, only one small country (New Zealand) allowed women to vote, but now, only one small country (Kuwait) does (New Zealand) allowed women to vote, but now, only one small country (Kuwait) does not allow women to vote.not allow women to vote.
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Chronology of Women’s Chronology of Women’s SuffrageSuffrage 18691869 Wyoming Territory grants suffrage to women. Wyoming Territory grants suffrage to women. 18701870 Utah Territory grants suffrage to women. Utah Territory grants suffrage to women. 18801880 New York state grants school suffrage to women. New York state grants school suffrage to women. 18901890 Wyoming joins the union as the first state with voting Wyoming joins the union as the first state with voting
rights for women. By 1900 women also have full suffrage rights for women. By 1900 women also have full suffrage in Utah, Colorado and Idaho. in Utah, Colorado and Idaho. New Zealand is the first nation to give women suffrage.New Zealand is the first nation to give women suffrage.
19021902 Women of Australia are enfranchised. Women of Australia are enfranchised. 19061906 Women of Finland are enfranchised. Women of Finland are enfranchised. 19121912 Suffrage referendums are passed in Arizona, Suffrage referendums are passed in Arizona,
Kansas, and Oregon. Kansas, and Oregon. 19141914 Montana and Nevada grant voting rights to women. Montana and Nevada grant voting rights to women. 19151915 Women of Denmark are enfranchised. Women of Denmark are enfranchised. 19171917 Women win the right to vote in North Dakota, Ohio, Women win the right to vote in North Dakota, Ohio,
Indiana, Rhode Island, Nebraska, Michigan, New York, Indiana, Rhode Island, Nebraska, Michigan, New York, and Arkansas. and Arkansas.
19181918 Women of Austria, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Women of Austria, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, Scotland, and Wales Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, Scotland, and Wales are enfranchised.are enfranchised.
19191919 Women of Azerbaijan Republic, Belgium, British East Women of Azerbaijan Republic, Belgium, British East Africa, Holland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Rhodesia, and Africa, Holland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Rhodesia, and Sweden are enfranchised.Sweden are enfranchised.
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Passage of the 19th Amendment Passage of the 19th Amendment
Passed in 1919Passed in 1919
““The right of citizens The right of citizens of the United States of the United States to vote shall not be to vote shall not be denied or abridged by denied or abridged by the United States or the United States or by any state on by any state on account of sex.”account of sex.”
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MultimediaMultimedia CitationCitation
Slide 1: http://www.americaslibrary.gov/assets/jb/jazz/jb_jazz_19tham_1_e.jpg Slide 2: http://clarke.cmich.edu/detroit/images/tocqueville.jpg Slide 3: http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/images/2003/ElizabethCadyStanton.jpg Slide 4: http://teachpol.tcnj.edu/amer_pol_hist/fi/00000113.htm Slide 5: http://www.kentlaw.edu/ilhs/images/hall/nestor.jpg Slide 6: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pnp/cph/3b30000/3b39000/3b39700/3b39726r.jpg Slide 7: http://www.constitutioncenter.org/timeline/html/cw08_12159.html Slide 8: http://womenshistory.about.com/library/pic/bl_p_opposed_suffrage_hq.htm Slide 9: http://www.jwa.org/teach/primarysources/orgrec_08.pdf Slide 10: http://www.asu.edu/pipercwcenter/how2journal/current/miller_feature/intro_mainframe.htm# Slide 11: http://www.archives.gov/global-pages/larger-image.html?i=/education/lessons/woman-suffrage/images/
kaiser-wilson-l.gif&c=/education/lessons/woman-suffrage/images/kaiser-wilson.caption.html Slide 12: http://www.brynmawr.edu/library/exhibits/suffrage/CCCatt.jpg Slide 13: http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/fem-vote.htm Slide 14: http://www.americaslibrary.gov/assets/jb/jazz/jb_jazz_19tham_1_e.jpg Slide 15: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/amendment_19/images/amendment_19.gif
