What Is The Women's Suffrage Movement?

The Antebellum Period that lasted roughly from 1825–1850 is an era known for its many reform movements and major transformations in American society. Prior to the popularity of reform movements in American society was the 1828 election in which Andrew Jackson became the seventh president. Jackson professed himself the “champion of the common man,” where the “common man” meant white men. Nevertheless, his presidency caused the development of a more popular mass democracy, or Jacksonian Democracy as it is commonly referred to. The westward expansion that occurred during Jackson’s presidency lead to a shift in America’s economical makeup from a mercantile/market economy to capitalism.

The women’s movement throughout the 1800s relied mostly on other social campaigns to begin its pivotal role in their own revolutionary protests. After the Great Awakening, many women revived their religious views and advocated for the prohibition of alcohol and for the freedom of slaves. These actions advanced their speech skills and taught the masses how to organize to progress, thus strengthening their operations in the future. So, in the midst of their fight for gender equality many other issues were mixed in, and those problems were resisted through the help of women. In fact, women acted as a critical component for better working conditions in factories and the elimination of child labor.

During the 1850’s the women’s rights movement starting gathering steam but lost momentum when the Civil War began. The 14th and 15th amendment raised familiar questions of suffrage and citizenship. Some woman-suffrage advocates believed this was their chance to push lawmakers for truly universal suffrage. They refused to support the 15th amendment and allied with racist southerners. In 1890 two groups merged and formed to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association.

The aftermath of the Civil War caused drastic transformations among the American people between the years 1860 and 1880. Of these changes rose the issues of political and social relations within the nation. The issues of political and social relationships arose among several different groups of people, causing these relationships to drastically change. Through the transformations of public liberty, right of succession, and slavery, the Civil War and it's inevitable aftermath was able to alter the political and social relationships that had been instilled in the fabric of America before the times of 1860.

As Latin America marches towards new democracy systems, gender inequity remains to be a persistent characteristic of the countries. Women in the region have played a significant role in reducing, and ultimately ending, gender inequalities (Sutton, 514). Despite the economic growth of Chile and its democracy government, gender inequalities in the country remain (COHA). Elected in 2006, Michelle Bachelet is “the first elected woman president in Latin America who is not the wife, widow or daughter of powerful male political elites” (Thomas, 67). Gender ideology influences not only the political and cultural context in which women and men compete for political office, but also the interpretations and meanings assigned to the actions of male and

Suffrage means to have the right to vote in political elections. This concept is an ideal meaning for women throughout history, especially for the women population between late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Women suffrage commenced at the Seneca Falls, which later on had escalated to Unions, then led to the 15th and 19th amendment. Of course, the men of that time had belittled the women who believed that they were more than merely the traditional mothers and wives. Although, suffrage is not only just for females, but to the Black population too; both males and females.

During Progressive Era, there were many reforms that occurred, such as Child Labor Reform or Pure Food and Drug Act. Women Suffrage Movement was the last remarkable reform, and it was fighting about the right of women to vote, which was basically about women’s right movement. Many great leaders – Elizabeth Cad Stanton and Susan B. Anthony - formed the National American Women Suffrage Association (NAWSA). Although those influential leaders faced hardship during this movement, they never gave up and kept trying their best. This movement was occurred in New York that has a huge impact on the whole United States.

What caused this protest to start and what took place? The women’s suffrage movement in New Zealand was lead by Kate Wilson Sheppard. One reason why women wanted to get the vote was because they wanted to vote for prohibition (to stop alcohol consumption). Another reason that made women want to fight for the vote was because the roles of women were changing.

After the Civil War the nation was rapidly industrializing, new immigrants were pouring into the country and, cities were expanding. With the nation growing and changing as it was the society of the country was evolving. With the turmoil in society people known as progressives sought to root out the negative aspects of the ever changing society and change it for the betterment of all thus dubbing the movement the progressive era. Some of the movements focused on addressing these societal issues were the temperance movement and the women’s suffrage movement. While the Women’s suffrage movement was effective the temperance movement proved to be largely ineffective.

“ A crusade in political education by women and for women, and for most of its existence, a crusade in search of a consistency” this quote by historian Nancy Woloch describes early suffragists efforts to take one step further to equality among men and women (Office of the Historian, 2007). The women 's suffrage movement changed the political, social and economic stance of women in The United States during the early twentieth century. Today women are one step closer to full equality of the sexes because of the women who fought for suffrage. Before this became the huge movement it was still legal for some women to vote in a few states. In Massachusetts and New York emphasis placed on owning property was the determining factor in voting rights.

The first women in Australian that were able to vote were in South Australia, in 1895 , and quickly, other states and territories followed. This leap in women’s rights changed Australia into a nation of equality, and moved the nation into the next stage of cultural independence. Vida Goldstein was a Victorian citizen who followed in her mother’s footsteps in becoming a social reformer and a suffragist. She was firmly encouraged by her parents to become educated and independent, and this led her to become the leader in Victoria for women’s equality. She was an excellent public speaker, and this enabled her to grasp her audience and effect and change their opinions on women’s equality.

During the progressive era, there were many organization’s that arose to better the American society. Two Progressive reforms that sought to help women were the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, and the Women Suffrage Association. The Women’s Christian Temperance Union or WCTU was founded in November 1874 in Cleveland, Ohio by Frances Willard and Annie Turner Wittenmeyer. This organization's purpose was to educate people about the dangers of alcohol, and eventually prohibit alcohol distribution in America. The Women’s Suffrage Association was founded in New York City in 1869 by Women’s rights activist Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.