Women in American HistoryWomen in American Historyto 1920to 1920

----The Road to SuffrageThe Road to Suffrage

Prof. Margaret S. ThompsonProf. Margaret S. ThompsonHistory DepartmentHistory DepartmentSyracuse UniversitySyracuse University

October 2011October 2011

Women’s Suffrage Women’s Suffrage PrecedentsPrecedents

Lydia Chapin TaftLydia Chapin Taft, Uxbridge, MA—voted , Uxbridge, MA—voted in 3 Town Meetings as early as 1756in 3 Town Meetings as early as 1756

In In New JerseyNew Jersey, women owning more than , women owning more than $250 in property could vote, 1790-1807.$250 in property could vote, 1790-1807.

June 1848, June 1848, Gerrit SmithGerrit Smith of ofUtica made women’s suffrage aUtica made women’s suffrage aplank in the Liberty Partyplank in the Liberty Partyplatform.platform.

Abigail Adams (1744-1818)Abigail Adams (1744-1818)“… remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorableto them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited powerinto the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would betyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paidto the Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebellion, and willnot hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have novoice, or Representation.” [letter to John Adams, March 1776]

““Republican Motherhood”Republican Motherhood”

Children should be raised to uphold Children should be raised to uphold the ideals of republicanism, making the ideals of republicanism, making them ideal citizens of the new nation.them ideal citizens of the new nation.

Elevated the role of women in raising Elevated the role of women in raising the next generation.the next generation.

Contributed to support for Contributed to support for educational opportunities for girls educational opportunities for girls and women as “future mothers” in and women as “future mothers” in the Early Republic.the Early Republic.

Not unrelatedly, Susan B. Anthony’s second knowninstance of public activism was in 1837, calling for equalpay for women teachers. She was only 17, and a newteacher herself. [Her first significant political action wasat the age of 16, when she collected 2 boxes ofantislavery petitions.]

[Susan B. Anthony inher 20s.]

Women as Social/Political Women as Social/Political ReformersReformers

[prior to women’s rights activism][prior to women’s rights activism]

TemperanceTemperance Education [Education [Indeed, in 1837, Kentucky gave some Indeed, in 1837, Kentucky gave some

women property owners the right to vote in school board women property owners the right to vote in school board

electionselections.].] AbolitionismAbolitionism Women Speakers Women Speakers at “promiscuous at “promiscuous

assemblies.”assemblies.” Property RightsProperty Rights—leading to the New York Married —leading to the New York Married

Women’s Property Rights Act of 1848.Women’s Property Rights Act of 1848.

Early women’s rights Early women’s rights activistsactivists

[many prior to 1848][many prior to 1848] Lucretia MottLucretia Mott Margaret FullerMargaret Fuller Frances WrightFrances Wright Martha Coffin Wright (sister of L. Mott)Martha Coffin Wright (sister of L. Mott) Abby KelleyAbby Kelley Sophia RipleySophia Ripley Sarah and Angelina GrimkeSarah and Angelina Grimke Ernestine RoseErnestine Rose Harriet TubmanHarriet Tubman Male allies: Frederick Douglass, Gerrit Smith, Male allies: Frederick Douglass, Gerrit Smith,

William Lloyd Garrison, Henry Blackwell.William Lloyd Garrison, Henry Blackwell.

In 1840, a young Elizabeth Cady Stanton attended theInternational AntiSlavery Convention in London on herhoneymoon. There, she met numerous abolitionists, including William Lloyd Garrison and Lucretia Mott. Mottwas a delegate to the Convention (as was Henry Stanton),but it refused to seat her because she was a woman. Inprotest, Garrison sat with the women in the balcony, whereECS and Mott held their first known conversation aboutwomen’s rights.

Seneca Falls Women’s Rights Seneca Falls Women’s Rights Convention, 19-20 July 1848Convention, 19-20 July 1848

3 main organizers: Stanton, Mott, Martha 3 main organizers: Stanton, Mott, Martha Wright (Declaration of Sentiments written at Wright (Declaration of Sentiments written at Wright’s home in Auburn).Wright’s home in Auburn).

c. 300 in attendance, 100 of whom signed, c. 300 in attendance, 100 of whom signed, 1/3 of them men.1/3 of them men.

The suffrage resolution was a last-minute The suffrage resolution was a last-minute addition, addition, notnot originally a central component. originally a central component.

Only one signer (Charlotte Woodward, 19 in Only one signer (Charlotte Woodward, 19 in 1848) was alive to vote in 1920, after 1848) was alive to vote in 1920, after ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment.ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment.

American Equal Rights Assn.American Equal Rights Assn.

Founded in 1866 from the American Anti-Founded in 1866 from the American Anti-Slavery Society—would disintegrate by 1869.Slavery Society—would disintegrate by 1869.

Initially aimed at uniting the causes of racial Initially aimed at uniting the causes of racial and women’s equality. Initially, debate over and women’s equality. Initially, debate over whether or not to support 14whether or not to support 14thth Amendment Amendment (1868) and, even moreso, the 15th. WHY (1868) and, even moreso, the 15th. WHY WOULD THESE BE AN ISSUE?WOULD THESE BE AN ISSUE?

NWSA & AWSA founded from splinters in NWSA & AWSA founded from splinters in 1869.1869.

Constitutional Amendment Constitutional Amendment ControversiesControversies

State Referenda on Black and Women’s State Referenda on Black and Women’s Suffrage—first in Kansas (1867). Both lost, Suffrage—first in Kansas (1867). Both lost, but women’s suffrage by larger margin.but women’s suffrage by larger margin.

What were the issues with 14What were the issues with 14thth and 15 and 15thth Amendments?Amendments?

The controversy itself was a sign of The controversy itself was a sign of progress.progress.

““Take your turn, ladies”: F. Douglass, etc.Take your turn, ladies”: F. Douglass, etc.

Three More Controversies of Three More Controversies of 18721872

The peculiar story of George Francis The peculiar story of George Francis Train.Train.

Victoria Woodhull ran for president on Victoria Woodhull ran for president on the “Equal Rights Party” ticket.the “Equal Rights Party” ticket.

November: Susan B. Anthony arrested November: Susan B. Anthony arrested and tried (in Canandaigua) for and tried (in Canandaigua) for attempting to vote in the Presidential attempting to vote in the Presidential election. Found guilty; never paid fine.election. Found guilty; never paid fine.

George Francis Train Victoria Woodhull

National Women’s Suffrage National Women’s Suffrage Assn.Assn.

Opposed Fifteenth Opposed Fifteenth Amendment.Amendment.

More inclusive women’s More inclusive women’s rights agenda.rights agenda.

Members included: Eliz. Members included: Eliz. Cady Stanton, Susan B. Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Matilda Joslyn Anthony, Matilda Joslyn Gage, Martha Wright Gage, Martha Wright Coffin, Lucretia Mott, Coffin, Lucretia Mott, Ernestine Rose, etc.Ernestine Rose, etc.

American Women’s Suffrage American Women’s Suffrage Assn.Assn.

Supported Fifteenth Supported Fifteenth Amendment.Amendment.

““Suffrage only” Suffrage only” agenda.agenda.

Members included: Members included: Lucy Stone, Julia Lucy Stone, Julia Ward Howe, Ward Howe, Blanche Ames, Blanche Ames, Josephine Ruffin, Josephine Ruffin, Frederick Douglass.Frederick Douglass.

National American Women’s National American Women’s Suffrage Association (1890).Suffrage Association (1890).

NWSA/AWSA merged to form new organization, basicallywith the agenda of the old AWSA. Among new leaders were Frances Willard, Anna Shaw, Mary Church Terrell, andCarrie Chapman Catt.

1868: First women’s suffrage amendment introduced 1868: First women’s suffrage amendment introduced in US House; in 1878 in Senate (called the “Anthony in US House; in 1878 in Senate (called the “Anthony Amendment”).Amendment”).

1869: Wyoming Territory grants full voting rights to 1869: Wyoming Territory grants full voting rights to women; Utah does so in 1870, and Washington women; Utah does so in 1870, and Washington Territory in 1883.Territory in 1883.

1872: GOP Platform includes reference to women’s 1872: GOP Platform includes reference to women’s suffrage for the first time.suffrage for the first time.

1878: Senate hearing on the Anthony Amendment.1878: Senate hearing on the Anthony Amendment. 1887: Senate votes on women’s suffrage for the first 1887: Senate votes on women’s suffrage for the first

time (and the last for the next 25 years); it is time (and the last for the next 25 years); it is defeated.defeated.

STATEHOOD Suffrage: Wyoming (1890), Colorado STATEHOOD Suffrage: Wyoming (1890), Colorado (1893), Utah (1896), Washington (1910), California (1893), Utah (1896), Washington (1910), California (1911), Oregon, Kansas, Arizona (1912), Illinois (1911), Oregon, Kansas, Arizona (1912), Illinois (1913—first state east of Mississippi River).(1913—first state east of Mississippi River).

Expanding Suffrage’s Expanding Suffrage’s ConstituencyConstituency

Frances Willard and the WCTU.Frances Willard and the WCTU. African-American women: welcome, African-American women: welcome,

or not? [NACW and Mary M. Bethune]or not? [NACW and Mary M. Bethune] Suffrage and the Clubwoman Suffrage and the Clubwoman

movement.movement.

““Social Housekeeping”Social Housekeeping”

As Jane Addams put it: “Politics is As Jane Addams put it: “Politics is housekeeping on a grand scale.”housekeeping on a grand scale.”

Stressed the nurturing and redemptive Stressed the nurturing and redemptive qualities of motherhood and social justice.qualities of motherhood and social justice.

Women should vote notWomen should vote notbecause they were humanbecause they were humanBeings like men—but pre-Beings like men—but pre-cisely because they werecisely because they weredifferent and “feminine.”different and “feminine.”

The Final Push Toward The Final Push Toward SuffrageSuffrage

Federal Amendment or State-by-State Federal Amendment or State-by-State Approach?Approach?

Suffrage only, or broader “women’s” Suffrage only, or broader “women’s” agenda?agenda?

Radical or mainstream tactics?Radical or mainstream tactics? FeminismFeminism: are women the same as (sharing : are women the same as (sharing

common “human” identities) or distinct from common “human” identities) or distinct from men? Do they deserve suffrage in spite or, or men? Do they deserve suffrage in spite or, or because of, their similarities or differences?because of, their similarities or differences?

The central role and strategic sophistication The central role and strategic sophistication of Carrie Chapman Catt.of Carrie Chapman Catt.

3 March 1913—Suffrage March 3 March 1913—Suffrage March on Washington.on Washington.

Timed for the day before Woodrow Wilson’s Timed for the day before Woodrow Wilson’s inaugural (and upstaged it).inaugural (and upstaged it).

More than 5000 marchers, including delegations More than 5000 marchers, including delegations from nations that had already enfranchised from nations that had already enfranchised women.women.

Women wore white (became the “official” color of Women wore white (became the “official” color of the suffrage movement, and continued with the the suffrage movement, and continued with the Equal Rights movement in the later part of the Equal Rights movement in the later part of the century).century).

Racially segregated, so as not to “offend” Racially segregated, so as not to “offend” Southern white women, or President-elect Wilson. Southern white women, or President-elect Wilson. Not all Black women went along with this.Not all Black women went along with this.

Alice PaulAlice Paul

Founded the Founded the Congressional Union in Congressional Union in 1913, initially within 1913, initially within NAWSA.NAWSA.

1914: Split with NAWSA 1914: Split with NAWSA and, in 1916, became the and, in 1916, became the National Women’s Party. National Women’s Party.

By 1916, NWP picketing By 1916, NWP picketing the White House and the White House and performing acts of civil performing acts of civil disobedience.disobedience.

Introduces the Equal Introduces the Equal Rights Amendment in Rights Amendment in 1923.1923.

Jeannette Rankin (1880-Jeannette Rankin (1880-1973)1973)

Becomes first woman (R-MT) elected to Becomes first woman (R-MT) elected to Congress in 1916. Elected again in 1940, Congress in 1916. Elected again in 1940, she voted against US entry into both World she voted against US entry into both World War I and World War II.War I and World War II.

Founding member (1915)Founding member (1915)of the Women’s Interna-of the Women’s Interna-tional League for Peacetional League for Peace& Freedom, and founding & Freedom, and founding VP of the ACLU.VP of the ACLU.

The Campaign’s Last StagesThe Campaign’s Last Stages

The “Great War” and support for women’s The “Great War” and support for women’s suffrage.suffrage.

January 1918: President Wilson declares need for January 1918: President Wilson declares need for women’s suffrage as a “war measure.” women’s suffrage as a “war measure.”

January 1919 Ratification of the Eighteenth January 1919 Ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment.Amendment.

21 May 1919: House passes “Anthony Amendment.21 May 1919: House passes “Anthony Amendment. 4 June: Senate passes it, too. 4 June: Senate passes it, too. 36 States needed for ratification; the last was 36 States needed for ratification; the last was

Tennessee. [The story of Harry Burns.]Tennessee. [The story of Harry Burns.]

Suffrage finally passed in Tennessee by one vote, and the “Anthony Amendment” ratified, 18 August1920.

The meaning of suffrage—what The meaning of suffrage—what was accomplished, and was accomplished, and notnot??

By the time it was achieved, was women’s By the time it was achieved, was women’s suffrage a suffrage a feministfeminist accomplishment? accomplishment?

Was there then—and has there ever beenWas there then—and has there ever been—a “women’s vote”?—a “women’s vote”?

What about the larger agenda of Seneca What about the larger agenda of Seneca Falls, and of “First-Wave” feminism?Falls, and of “First-Wave” feminism?

Did suffragists compromise too much to Did suffragists compromise too much to achieve the objective of the vote alone?achieve the objective of the vote alone?