Nancy A. Hewitt said in “From Seneca Falls to Suffrage? Reimagining a ‘Master’ Narrative of U.S. Women’s History” that, “In recent years, historical studies have revealed the multifaceted movements that constituted woman 's rights campaigns in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Yet one narrative continues to dominate understandings of the period” (15). This is a perfect example of an alternative histories, which is when important events are so underreported that we are left with one side of history, that doesn’t allow most to know the full history of the women’s rights
Because of sexist opinions of the time, many people believed that a woman had no power to create change, especially in government since she could not vote. Women themselves believed this societal expectation, and although Grimke does not reject society’s idea of femininity and womanhood entirely, she specifically rejects their supposed political incompetence in a rebuttal. Using evidence from general and specific political movements in England, all of which were greatly aided by the support of women petitioning the government, Grimke assured her audience that “When the women of these States send up to Congress such a petition our legislators will arise, as did those of England, and say: ‘When all the maids and matrons of the land are knocking at our doors we must legislate.’” (Grimke, 192) This summary of her somewhat vague past points is similarly nonspecific; however, this is still effective since simply alluding to historical events rather than explaining them was sufficient for an audience that knew more about England and its history than contemporary Americans do today.
In “Women of Color and the Reproductive Rights Movement”, author Jennifer Nelson takes the readers back to the Unites States in the mid to late nineteenth century, where the feminist movement began to focus on the reproductive rights of women. Feminists argued that abortion was the decision of the woman who was with child, and her alone. However, several politicians disagreed with the ideology of these women. The author meticulously analyzes the rise of reproductive rights, the feminist movement, and reveals to her readers the essential involvement of women of color in these former issues between the years 1960 and 1980. Nelson begins her book by introducing a feminist organization called the “Redstockings”, who believed that it was wrong
Before August 18th, 1920, only men could vote in the United States. One person that helped to right this wrong was Carrie Chapman Catt. In Carrie Chapman Catt’s address to Congress on women’s suffrage, she uses logos, pathos, and other rhetorical devices to convince Congress to give women more rights. One tool that helps make this speech as effective as it is is logos. She demonstrates logos when introducing the second reason as to why women’s suffrage is inevitable.
In July of 1848 a convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York whose purpose was “to discuss the social, civil, and religious condition and rights of woman.” This convention was attended by almost 200 women and was the first women’s rights convention to ever be held. It was brought to fruition by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cody Stanton and is known as the Seneca Falls Convention. The two had met 8 years before at an anti-slavery convention and had not been allowed to enter because of their sex. They then decided to begin to advocate for women’s rights and even though it took many years to accomplish, hosted the Seneca Falls women’s rights convention.
1849 to 1910 was an important time for America. Reforms were happening all across the board, affecting workers, African Americans, and children. It was also very crucial for women’s rights – voting rights in particular. This period saw the beginning of the women’s suffrage movement; however, it also marked the start of anti-suffrage. During this time, society was divided with one of the simplest and most complicated questions of the era: what is the proper role of women?
The Women’s Rights Movement originated from the public protest meeting in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848. Many at the meeting were skeptical about the demands being made to allow women to exercise the right to participate in government and vote. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the primary organizer of the meeting, remembered that many attending, including radical Lucretia Mott, thought that the demand was too far advanced for the time. They believed that advocating for political equality was also “too morally questionable” to include in this movement
The women’s suffrage movement began in Seneca Falls, New York during a convention on the rights of women. Seneca Falls was a progressive town but even here, Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s call for suffrage was controversial. Voting and politics were seen as completely male domains and it was shocking to think of women involved in either. The main argument of suffragists was that they were being denied one of the most basic rights of Democracy. They were expected to live under laws which they could not vote for and pay taxes to a government which didn’t represent them.
In the Progressive Era, ‘women reformers did not have faith in the traditional biased government. The women reform group adopted new political techniques. There techniques included marching, and demonstrating as unbiased pressure groups’. (Goldfield, ed., The American Journey: A History of the United State, pgs.
After the deaths of many of the women’s rights activists from the older generation, younger leaders began to take charge, and they often aligned themselves with the Progressives. During this time, women’s roles were viewed as homemakers, so many of the Progressive women defended their reform actions as an extension of the traditional role of women. Among, the many values held for many decades by these reformers was the right to vote for women. In her piece, “Why Women Should Vote”, Jane Adams argued how women needed this right “in order to preserve the home,” (Doc C). These views developed into the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which gave women the right to vote.
I certify that this essay is entirely my own work and has not been revised or altered by anyone else. In 1848 about 300 people gathered for the Seneca Falls Convention in New York to draft a document that is a plea for the end of discrimination against women. There was little to no progress being made for women’s rights before the Seneca Falls Convention took place. After the Seneca Falls Convention there were many changes that followed what was outlined in the Declaration of Sentiments. The movement for women’s right became a more prominent issue after the Seneca Falls convention made the topic at the forefront of politics and began the conversation.
Thus, it is necessary to conclude that women have always played an important role in the development of history. History that involves women has been developed throughout the centuries, constantly changing its goals and forms, increasing the popularity movement of the American women in the late 1800’s. Women were discriminated for many things for a very long time, it wasn’t until the late 1800’s that women actually started to gain very few rights. The late 1800’s is very important time for women as it gets the movement started for Women’s Suffrage, and ultimately the late 1800’s starts to open the way for equality for women and
The article argues that the women’s suffrage movement brought about significant change in women’s roles and rights in society. Frost notes that the suffrage movement helped to raise awareness about women’s issues, and that it paved the way for other feminist movements in the 20th century. Frost also notes that the suffrage movement helped to challenge the notion that women were inferior to men, and that it helped to promote gender equality in
Leaders of the American Feminist Movement began to draw parallels between the struggles of women and the plight of slaves, and pressed the boundaries of “acceptable” female behavior. The Seneca Falls Convention was organized to discuss the question of women’s right, and out of the meeting came the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions. This declaration stated that “all men and women are created equal,” and women no less than men are endowed with certain inalienable rights (Doc 6). In demanding the right to vote, they launched a movement for woman suffrage that would survive until the battle was finally won in 1920. Yet, during this time, women who were black faced an even greater struggle.
Fortunately, due to the tireless work of decades of activist’s, laws have changed, amendments added to the constitution, and rights granted to those who were previously unjustly denied. One of these victories for women’s rights occurred when women were granted the right
Even though the message included gaining the support of the people to achieve a common cause of women getting the right to vote, Florence Kelley developed her argument through the community’s status dealing with child labor. The use of rhetorical strategies persuaded the audience -the Association accompanied by men and women across the country- to act in order to discontinue the practice of child labor. Additionally it conveniences the audience of the importance of the women’s point of view in the government. Other women in the National American Woman Suffrage Association exhaustingly fought in order to make their voice heard.