Women's Suffrage 2

A detailed Summary of Women's Suffrage 2

In Colonial America women had no rights and were considered property of their husbands. This did not settle well with most of the women therefore creating some opposition. One of the main things women could not do was to vote. So until 1920 and the introduction of the 19th amendment women had to suffer and withstand persecution from other Americans. This suffering and hard work to create equal opportunities for both sexes created a better future for all of America's women and allowed women the right to vote.

In colonial America, as elsewhere in the world, "civil law did not recognize the equality of men and women. The perception of inequality, which included the belief that women lacked the capacity to reason as well as men, provided the basis for not allowing women the right to vote."(Butler, 24) Even before the American Revolution (1776-1783), however, American women participated in public life somewhat more freely than European women. In most colonies land ownership, not gender, determined the right to vote. Although females had only limited property rights, women from families that owned property could sometimes vote, particularly if the male head of household was for some reason incapacitated. In Massachusetts wome

Because of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan Anthony, and all the other women who participated in the suffrage movement, the women of America have the right to vote. Since they were granted the right to vote, women's rights have increased over the past seventy-eight years and now men and women are equal with the Equal Rights Amendment (which has never been ratified).

During the Civil War the women's suffrage movement was pushed to the side by the war effort and movement for the removal of slavery. After the Civil War however, the women came back with the movement and were as strong as ever. In 1868, the women pressed for a constitutional amendment allowing all Americans the right to vote. The abolitionists delayed their request but Stanton and Susan Anthony found this to be unacceptable. In May 1868, the two feminist leaders created the independent National Woman Suffrage Association, with the objective of gaining the right to vote on a state to state basis. The first state to give women the right to vote was Wyoming in 1869.

The Convention saw an attendance of between 100 and 300 people, among them many male sympathizers. " After serious discussion of proposed means to achieve their goals, the delegates finally agreed that the primary goal should be the achievement of the franchise. The convention then adopted a Declaration of Sentiments patterned after the American Declaration of Independence." (Grolier's Encyclopedia, Woman Suffrage)

The U.S. involvement in World War I in 1918 slowed down the suffrage campaign as women pitched in for the war effort. However, in 1919, after years of petitioning, picketing, and protest parades, the Nineteenth Amendment was passed by both houses of Congress and in 1920 it became ratified under the presidency of Woodrow Wilson. The amendment stated that, "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."(Grolier's Encyclopedia, Nin

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Category: History