The Women's Suffrage Movement
1920 - 2020
All Thirteen Colonies restricted voting to white male property owners, that had specific minimum values.
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The Puritans limited voting to only men in good standing with the church. Quakers, Catholics, and blacks were barred from voting.
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In France, military members were not granted suffrage until August 17, 1945.
In recent man-on-the-street interviews, college co-eds were asked "Should women's suffrage end?" A surprising number of them said "Yes". They willingly signed a faux "petition" to that effect, even agreeing to the repleal of the 19th Amendment.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOZr9DD0gMg)
Declaration of Sentiments
Taking inspiration from the Declaration of Independence, the document listed specific grievances including employment and educational opportunities, private property ownership, the right to hold public office, and the right to vote.
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Read the entire Declaration of Sentiments at:
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https://www.nps.gov/wori/learn/historyculture/declaration-of-sentiments.htm
Suffrage appeared six times on the Oregon ballot: 1884, 1900, 1906, 1908, 1910, and 1912 before passage.
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On November 5, 1912 equal suffrage for women was added to the Oregon Constitution.
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For more information on the Oregon Women's Suffrage Movement, see the Oregon Secretary of State webite at:
https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/explore/exhibits/woman-intro.aspx
The Team
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony
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Elizabeth, being married and a mother, did most of the writing for the movement, including speeches delivered by Susan.
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Susan handled the business affairs of the organization and traveled, delivering speeches, and helping local groups organize.
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"She is the brain. I am the hands and feet", said Anthony about Stanton.
Abigail Scott Duniway
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Originally settling in Laffayette, Oregon, Abigail was cental to Oregon's Women's Suffrage.
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She arranged for suffragist Susan B. Anthony to tour the Pacific Northwest in 1871.
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After witnessing the hardships of pioneer widows, Abigail saw the right to vote as a pathway for women achieving economic equality.
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For more information on Abigail, see:
https://oregonhistoryproject.org/articles/biographies/abigail-scott-duniway-biography/#.XhT8G0BFyM8
On January 14, 1920, Oregon became the 25th state to ratify the 19th Amendment.
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Tennessee (the only southern state to do so) was the 36th state needed to finally ratify the amendment...by one vote. August 26, 1920.
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Learn more about the “be a good boy and help Mrs. Catt put the ‘rat’ in ratification.” letter.
https://www.history.com/news/the-mother-who-saved-suffrage-passing-the-19th-amendment
If I Were History Teacher for the Day...
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Post-Lecture Exam
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(Ten questions will be chosen from this list.)
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1. Define "suffrage".
2. Give a synonym for "suffrage.
3. List the three basis for exclusion from suffrage in current election practices.
4. Compare "full suffrage" to "universal suffrage"
5. What basis for exclusion from suffrage was eliminated by the 15th Amendment to the US Constitution?
6. What basis for exclusion from suffrage was eliminated by the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution?
7. In 1755, what country became the first to grant Universal Suffrage to all citizens over age 25?
8. Lucretia Motts and Susan B. Anthony belonged to what pro-abolition religion?
9. What happened at the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Convention in London that resulted in the founding of the Women's Suffrage movement?
10. The 1848 Seneca Falls, New York Convention produced what final declaration?
11. What prominent abolitionist was instrumental in the passage of the Declaration of Sentiments?
12. The Declaration of Sentiments was fashioned after which American founding document?
13. List three of the grievances listed in the Declaration of Sentiments.
14. Explain the differences between "Suffragists" and "Suffragettes".
15. The passage of which Constitutional Amendment was opposed by Susan B. Anthony? Why?
16. In 1869, which US Territory was the first to grant women the right to vote?
17. When was the "Susan B. Anthony Amendment" first introduced in Congress? By which Senator, from which political party, and from which state?
18. When was the "Susan B. Anthony Amendment" successfully introduced in Congress? By which Representative, from which political party, and from which state?
19. In 1919, how many states in the Democrat controlled south voted in favor of passing the "Susan B. Anthony Amendment"?
20. How many states were needed to ratify any Amendment in 1920?
21. When was the Oregon Constitution amended to allow women’s equal suffrage?
22. On August 26, 1920, which was the final State to ratify the 19th Amendment?
23. When did Oregon vote to ratify the 19th Amendment?
24. Which was the last state to ratify the 19th Amendment? What year did this happen?