Introduction
Suffrage Movement Overview
American Suffrage movement is a massive trend in American society that started in the middle of the 19th century and lasted until the Nineteenth Amendment ratification. The first signs of women’s suffrage could be observed several decades before the Civil War. They occurred along with the abolitionist movement as a part of the overall trend for the promotion of human rights. However, the first official convention of women’s rights activists took place in Seneca Falls in 1848, where the supporters of women’s suffrage declared their political position. Since then, women’s suffrage turned into a nationwide movement, with many cases of women enfranchisement to vote in different states. However, these cases were not regular and spread predominantly in the North and the West. Civil War had brought many crucial changes that significantly impacted the women’s rights campaign. The extension of suffrage to men of color ignited a new wave of activism from women who were offended by this decision.
The following years were marked by the trend of women’s emancipation and active campaigns for the political rights of all people disregarding their sex. In the 20th century, the ideas about women’s suffrage had penetrated the political circles in Washington, gaining the support of many people in the House of Representatives and the Senate. According to Neuman (2017), the political activism of Carrie Chapman Catt, and White House protests led by Alice Paul were decisive in the transformation that took place. After these actions, the 19th Amendment passed the hearing and was ratified in 1920, granting white women the voting right but failing to provide absolute gender equality.
Thesis Statement
The suffrage movement brought a decisive initial victory for women’s rights activists, but it was far from final and did not grant full gender equality. Although the 19th Amendment was a significant step for women’s emancipation, without further activism, equal gender rights could not be achieved.
Suffrage Movement Analysis
Causes of Women’s Suffrage
The occurrence of the suffrage movement in the U.S. can be seen as the outcome of changes in society and the transformation of public opinion in the middle of the 19th century. The same ideas concerning abolitionism that led to the Civil War resulted in the popularity of women’s emancipation in the context of the human rights movement. The outcomes of the war prompted an increased agitation around women’s suffrage. The 14th Amendment declared recognition of all citizens and their equal protection by law, while the 15th granted the right to vote to all men disregarding the race. Many female activists were offended by such a course of events when racial issues were put forward while gender equality questions remained unsolved. Moreover, many people who did not support the 15th Amendment were attracted to women’s suffrage, claiming that the voices of white women were necessary to prevent black dominance.
Despite these tendencies, many African Americans supported women’s right to vote. According to Watkins (2019), such activists as Frederick Douglass and W.E.B. Du Bois tried to rebuild “the linkages between woman suffrage and the Black suffrage struggle” (p. 7). Moreover, black women understood that they could not win the right to vote without suffrage to all women. Although many suffragists cooperated with African American minorities, many of them still saw women’s suffrage as the opposition to black power. World War I also contributed to the implementation of women’s right to vote. Having demonstrated that they are patriotic and helpful to their country in case of a crisis, American women could not agree on the limited role they had in politics. Thus, the campaign that followed the war had the most significant impact and secured the right to vote for women.
The Course of the Suffrage Movement
The early stage of the suffrage movement in American society took place in the 1830-s as the reaction to the extension of white men’s voting rights disregarding their property status. After these changes, women first began to fight for their political freedom reflected in the right to vote. The first major national event in women’s suffrage is the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848. It was gathered by the early leaders of the movement Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Frederick Douglas, who spoke on behalf of American women of all races and motivated the participants to fight for women’s rights. After this meeting, voting rights were promoted in many states, but often women were disenfranchised after only several years of voting, and the tendency did not spread to the entire country.
The years following the Civil War were marked by the agitation of women’s rights campaigns led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. The formation of NAWSA (National American Woman Suffrage Association) was the most significant achievement of the movement of that period. The situation crucially changed during and after World War I. The political activism of Carrie Chapman Catt, the president of NAWSA, and her winning plan mobilized the suffrage organizations over the country and promoted women’s suffrage in the political circles. National Women’s Party led by Alice Paul proposed a more radical approach, going on strikes and pickets, and thus attracting the masses to their cause. Neuman (2017) claims that both strategies were effective and influenced each other positively. The two-side pressure helped to solidify the results and promote the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment.
The Amendment to the constitution was finally offered by House Joint Resolution in 1919. It 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” (House Joint Resolution №1, 1919, lines 9-11). This statement was crucial for the promotion of the Amendment written earlier by Susan B. Anthony. The changes to the constitution, known today as the Nineteenth Amendment, were ratified in 1920, granting white American women the right to vote. Nevertheless, Alice Paul and her party were not satisfied with such results and proposed the Equal Rights Amendment that granted overall gender equality, but it was not ratified.
Social and Political Consequences of the 19th Amendment
The ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment undoubtedly had a significant effect on the political and social life of the U.S. This document changed the way gender was perceived in the U.S., giving women political visibility and allowing them to participate in elections. According to Ritter (2000), “the significance of the vote was both instrumental and normative” (p. 353). As the instrument of political influence, vote allowed women to influence political decisions of federal and state importance. Moreover, it had a normative impact, defining the equality of women’s voices and granting them a privilege from which other rights derived.
Nevertheless, the Amendment did not provide ideal gender equality. It did not affect black women who were deprived of the vote and significantly restricted the rights of married women. Only two years later, the Cable Act was passed that separated the citizenship of a married couple (Ritter, 2000). Although the rights provided by the 19th Amendment were limited, it was a necessary step in the history of the women’s rights campaign. The modern perception of gender in the U.S. is different from that offered by the Amendment, but it still paved the path for future transformation. Moreover, the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment became a weighty precedent in the struggle for gender equality.
Historical Evidence of the Impact of the Nineteenth Amendment
The statement written by Nelson (1917) explains the public opinion present in the society of that time regarding women’s suffrage. From his writing, it is clear that the attitudes of politicians were predominantly positive, and the only question that remained was how to introduce the changes. Nelson (1917) argues that the national way is preferred over the state way as it helps to save time and effort. The determination with which he writes proves that the 19th Amendment was not a revolutionary change, but rather the product of decades of political influence and the evolution of public opinion.
Nevertheless, gender stereotypes persisted in the American society of that time, explaining why a more radical approach towards gender equality was not possible. Remarks, written by Osborne (1919), illustrate the major concerns of society regarding women’s emancipation. People were not ready to let go of the gender roles and preferred to argue that the changes would not “deprive womanhood of any of its charms” (Osborne, 1919, p. 4). This state of affairs concerning women’s suffrage proves that it was an essential step for women, but many more were needed in the following years.
Conclusion
Personal Significance
The suffrage movement is of personal importance for me both as a professional and a citizen. From a professional perspective, it gives an understanding of the linkages between gender equality and human rights activism. Moreover, it provides an insight into the influence historical events of such scale have on the formation of society and current public opinion. As a citizen, I perceive the women’s suffrage campaign as the lesson about the impact of each individual and the role of social activism. Additionally, the duration of the campaign and the fact that its founders did not live to see its achievements make me reconsider the way I think about human rights. Understanding o the price of human rights changes the attitudes and motivates me to protect them and fight against their violation.
Research Impact and Research Implications
Before researching women’s suffrage, I had a simplified understanding of the events and their roles. I believed it to be a revolutionary movement that ended with a complete victory of human rights solidified by the Nineteenth Amendment. However, the research process has revealed the complexity of this social phenomenon, showing it as a logical consequence of a decades-long struggle that still could not win the ideal equality for women. The social environment of that time was far more complicated than it seemed previously, incorporating the issues of race and segregation. The radical transformations could not be accepted easily; thus, steady changes had to be implemented. This complexity of society is the subject of further historical research on women’s suffrage. More attention should be paid to the role of race in women’s suffrage, as these questions have many linkages. Drawing connections between an anti-slavery and anti-racist movement along with women’s rights campaigns can help understand the context of human rights and anti-discriminatory practices.
References
House Joint Resolution 1 Regarding the 19th Amendment. (1919). Bills and Resolutions Originating in the House, 1789 – 1974; Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, Record Group 233; National Archives Building, Washington, DC.
Nelson, J. M. (1917). Woman suffrage: The view of the minority. Library of Congress and Sewall-Belmont House and Museum, Washington, D.C.
Neuman, J. (2017). The faux debate in North American suffrage history. Women’s History Review, 26(6), 1013-1020.
Osborne, H. Z. (1919). The woman suffrage constitutional amendment: Remarks. Government Printing Office. Web.
Ritter, G. (2000). Gender and citizenship after the Nineteenth Amendment. Polity, 32(3), 345-375.
Watkins, V. (2019). Votes for women: Race, gender, and W.E.B. Du Bois’s advocacy of woman suffrage. Journal of American History, 106(3), 3-19.