Rightfully hers: Celebrating 100 years
The History of The Women's Suffrage Movement
The women's suffrage movement officially began in 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York. A group of women and men met to discuss the problem of women's rights. This convention was organized by two prominent abolitionist, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. The idea of fighting for women's rights stemmed from the Anti-slavery movement, women noticed that women were being excluded in the negotiations concerning human rights and decided that they needed to do something about it. After this initial meeting female activist, like Susan B. Anthony, Stanton and Mott set up Suffrage organizations across the country to raise public awareness and to lobby the government.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Lucretia Mott
Susan B. Anthony
On May 21, 1919, 71 years after the Women's suffrage movement began, a Republican representative, James R. Mann from Illinois proposed to the house in favor of the Susan B. Anthony amendment allowing women to vote. The house overwhelmingly supported the amendment by over two-thirds of the house majority. August 26, 1920 state legislatures ratify the nineteenth amendment and American women finally won the right to vote.
All over the country women took to the streets and to protest unequal rights for women.
The suffrage movement helped to pave the way for women to attend Universities and enter fields that were once male dominated such as law, medical, clergy, and corporate. Thus creating an economic increase in the nation since now women were able to sense their potential for more meaningful professional careers increasing jobs. The strong women that helped to shape this country/world needed this boost to achieve the great monumental strides that have been made so far.
Elizabeth Blackwell was the first women to attend medical school in the United States.
National Association of Women Lawyers
August 26, 2020 marks the 100 year anniversary of this monumental achievement. Granting women the power to make joint decisions with the rest of the nation on matters that effect them, their family, state and country. Although it is hard for us to imagine women not being a prominent part of the decision-making process the battle was won but the war is ongoing. Women still face inequality such as unequal pay, unpaid maternity leave, and the right to choose what to do with their own bodies. We must remember the perseverance of those who came before us and remember that change does not come by remaining silent.
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