Session 3
Grade 5
The Petticoat Vote
The Petticoat Vote
1.
“A Thousand kisses.” That’s how Elizabeth Cady Stanton ended letters to her children.
And seven children meant a lot of kisses! Like other young mothers in the 1800’s, Elizabeth
cooked, cleaned, and sewed for her family. And through it all, she fought for the rights of
women.
2.
American women didn’t always have the same rights as men. Married women couldn’t
own property, and no women could vote. Elizabeth didn’t think that was fair. So in 1848,
she organized a meeting at Seneca Falls, New York, and suggested that women should have
the right to vote. America was shocked. Most Americans- even most women- thought
women should stick to wearing petticoats (frilly underskirts) and leave politics to men.
3.
Elizabeth had big ideas, but how could she change America’s thinking when she had a
family to care for? Her husband was often away from home. She couldn’t leave her children
alone while she traveled around the country arguing for the right to vote. Then Elizabeth
Cady Stanton met Susan B. Anthony. Susan was working to outlaw slavery and alcohol
abuse, and fighting for men and women to be paid the same wages. Elizabeth’s ideas about
woman suffrage- the right to vote- made sense to Susan. The two women became a team.
Elizabeth stayed home, organized meetings, and wrote letters and speeches. Susan, who had
no husband or children, traveled across America giving Elizabeth’s speeches. Elizabeth said
to Susan: “I forged the thunderbolts, she fired them.”
4.
By 1867, Elizabeth’s children were old enough that she could leave them. For the next
ten years, she traveled eight months each year, giving speeches, meeting with lawmakers,
and building support all over America. But it wasn’t until 1920- 18 years after Elizabeth
Cady Stanton’s death- that her dream came true. The 19th Amendment gave American
women the right to vote in all elections.
5.
Susan B. Anthony might sit on the face of our dollar coin, but it was her friend, Elizabeth
Cady Stanton, who first inspired women to fight for the right to vote. That busy mother with
the sparkling eyes and kind smile worked tirelessly over her lifetime for what she believed
was fair. A thousand kisses to you, Elizabeth Cady Stanton!
1. According to the passage, suffrage most likely means
A frilly underskirt
B sadness and pain
C the right to vote
D equal rights for women
Session 3
Grade 5
The Petticoat Vote
2. All of the following were methods that Elizabeth Cady Stanton employed to achieve equal rights
for women EXCEPT
A organizing meetings
B giving speeches
C meeting with lawmakers
D organizing protest marches
3. Which statement below best reflects the central idea of the text?
A Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony are great friends
B Elizabeth Cady Stanton fought for women to have the right to vote
C When two people form a partnership, great things can be achieved
D Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony organized meetings and made speeches to
achieve equal rights for women
Session 4
Grade 5
The Petticoat Vote
The Petticoat Vote
1.
“A Thousand kisses.” That’s how Elizabeth Cady Stanton ended letters to her children.
And seven children meant a lot of kisses! Like other young mothers in the 1800’s, Elizabeth
cooked, cleaned, and sewed for her family. And through it all, she fought for the rights of
women.
2.
American women didn’t always have the same rights as men. Married women couldn’t
own property, and no women could vote. Elizabeth didn’t think that was fair. So in 1848,
she organized a meeting at Seneca Falls, New York, and suggested that women should have
the right to vote. America was shocked. Most Americans- even most women- thought
women should stick to wearing petticoats (frilly underskirts) and leave politics to men.
3.
Elizabeth had big ideas, but how could she change America’s thinking when she had a
family to care for? Her husband was often away from home. She couldn’t leave her children
alone while she traveled around the country arguing for the right to vote. Then Elizabeth
Cady Stanton met Susan B. Anthony. Susan was working to outlaw slavery and alcohol
abuse, and fighting for men and women to be paid the same wages. Elizabeth’s ideas about
woman suffrage- the right to vote- made sense to Susan. The two women became a team.
Elizabeth stayed home, organized meetings, and wrote letters and speeches. Susan, who had
no husband or children, traveled across America giving Elizabeth’s speeches. Elizabeth said
to Susan: “I forged the thunderbolts, she fired them.”
4.
By 1867, Elizabeth’s children were old enough that she could leave them. For the next
ten years, she traveled eight months each year, giving speeches, meeting with lawmakers,
and building support all over America. But it wasn’t until 1920- 18 years after Elizabeth
Cady Stanton’s death- that her dream came true. The 19th Amendment gave American
women the right to vote in all elections.
5.
Susan B. Anthony might sit on the face of our dollar coin, but it was her friend, Elizabeth
Cady Stanton, who first inspired women to fight for the right to vote. That busy mother with
the sparkling eyes and kind smile worked tirelessly over her lifetime for what she believed
was fair. A thousand kisses to you, Elizabeth Cady Stanton!
Session 4
Grade 5
The Petticoat Vote
4. Read the sentence from the passage below
“I forged the thunderbolts, she fired them.”
According to the text, the word forged most likely means
A
B
C
D
To create through great effort
To recreate falsely
To accidently create
To create carelessly
5. Read the sentences from the text below
“American women didn’t always have the same rights as men.”
“…but it was her friend, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who first inspired women to fight for the right
to vote.”
Which statement below best reflects the relationship between these two sentences?
A
B
C
D
The first sentence is a supporting detail and the second sentence in the central idea
The first sentence explains the reason for the second sentence
Both describe what life was like for women during the 1800’s
The second sentence is the cause of the first sentence
6. Based on the text, which words best describe Elizabeth Cady Stanton?
A
B
C
D
Determined and courageous
Friendly and intelligent
Dedicated and loyal
Organized and sensitive
Session 4
Grade 5
The Petticoat Vote
7. Describe how Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony worked together to achieve
women’s suffrage. Use two details from the text to support your answer.
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Session 3
Grade 5
The Petticoat Vote
The last time we were introduced to a new text, we used it to determine the central idea or main
idea. Let’s review how we find the central idea of any text.
The Petticoat Vote
Look and think about the title: authors put a great deal of thought into their title and they will
always select one that is a hint to the main idea. Watch as I THINK about the title, The Petticoat Vote
(example think aloud): Well I'm looking at the title and I know now that petticoats were the frilly
underskirts that women wore back in the mid1800's. But this piece easily could have been titled The
Women's Vote but the author wanted to refer to petticoat to also give me a reference to the time period
that this took place. By using that word, it dates the piece, I know now it was not only about women's
right to vote AND how they gained at right to vote back in the mid 1800's. Be on the lookout for
repeated words and phrases: I am going to read the first paragraph aloud and I want you to listen to my
thinking at the end of it.
“A Thousand kisses.” That’s how Elizabeth Cady Stanton ended letters to her children. And
seven children meant a lot of kisses! Like other young mothers in the 1800’s, Elizabeth cooked, cleaned,
and sewed for her family. And through it all, she fought for the rights of women.
As I look back and think about what words and phrases are repeated, I want to look for ones that are
sophisticated. I see that kisses is said a lot but I don't think that is going to be the case throughout the
rest of the piece. I am definitely going to underline Elizabeth Cady Stanton since we need to know
whom this text is about. Children as well, but I think I need to read some more to confirm or change my
words.
American women didn’t always have the same rights as men. Married women couldn’t own
property, and no women could vote. Elizabeth didn’t think that was fair. So in 1848, she organized a
meeting at Seneca Falls, New York, and suggested that women should have the right to vote. America
was shocked. Most Americans- even most women- thought women should stick to wearing petticoats
(frilly underskirts) and leave politics to men.
In this paragraph, Elizabeth is definitely going to stay on my list. I am also seeing right to vote
and women. Now I want you to continue, you are going to read the next two paragraphs and be on the
hunt for these words and phrases.
Elizabeth had big ideas, but how could she change America’s thinking when she had a family to
care for? Her husband was often away from home. She couldn’t leave her children alone while she
traveled around the country arguing for the right to vote. Then Elizabeth Cady Stanton met Susan B.
Anthony. Susan was working to outlaw slavery and alcohol abuse, and fighting for men and women to
be paid the same wages. Elizabeth’s ideas about woman suffrage- the right to vote- made sense to Susan.
The two women became a team. Elizabeth stayed home, organized meetings, and wrote letters and
Session 3
Grade 5
The Petticoat Vote
speeches. Susan, who had no husband or children, traveled across America giving Elizabeth’s speeches.
Elizabeth said to Susan: “I forged the thunderbolts, she fired them.”
By 1867, Elizabeth’s children were old enough that she could leave them. For the next ten years,
she traveled eight months each year, giving speeches, meeting with lawmakers, and building support all
over America. But it wasn’t until 1920- 18 years after Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s death- that her dream
came true. The 19th Amendment gave American women the right to vote in all elections.
Susan B. Anthony might sit on the face of our dollar coin, but it was her friend, Elizabeth Cady
Stanton, who first inspired women to fight for the right to vote. That busy mother with the sparkling
eyes and kind smile worked tirelessly over her lifetime for what she believed was fair. A thousand
kisses to you, Elizabeth Cady Stanton!
1. According to the passage, suffrage most likely means
A frilly underskirt
B sadness and pain
C the right to vote
D equal rights for women
2. All of the following were methods that Elizabeth Cady Stanton employed to achieve equal rights
for women EXCEPT
A organizing meetings
B giving speeches
C meeting with lawmakers
D organizing protest marches
3. Which statement below best reflects the central idea of the text?
A Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony are great friends
B Elizabeth Cady Stanton fought for women to have the right to vote
C When two people form a partnership, great things can be achieved
D Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony organized meetings and made speeches to
achieve equal rights for women
Session 4
Grade 5
The Petticoat Vote
The Petticoat Vote
“A Thousand kisses.” That’s how Elizabeth Cady Stanton ended letters to her children. And
seven children meant a lot of kisses! Like other young mothers in the 1800’s, Elizabeth cooked, cleaned,
and sewed for her family. And through it all, she fought for the rights of women.
American women didn’t always have the same rights as men. Married women couldn’t own
property, and no women could vote. Elizabeth didn’t think that was fair.
I am thinking at this point that not only did Elizabeth think it was unfair, but many other women
thought it was unfair as well. I am thinking this because it says American women didn’t always have the
same rights as men. My background knowledge says that when people feel they cannot do what others
are allowed to do, then that leads to a feeling of inequality.
So in 1848, she organized a meeting at Seneca Falls, New York, and suggested that women should have
the right to vote. America was shocked. Most Americans- even most women- thought women should
stick to wearing petticoats (frilly underskirts) and leave politics to men.
I am thinking at this point that Elizabeth was a very brave woman. I am thinking this because it
says America was shocked. My background knowledge tells me that when people act shocked, they
usually are afraid to break away from what most people are doing. TO face that opposition makes ECS
very brave.
Elizabeth had big ideas, but how could she change America’s thinking when she had a family to
care for? Her husband was often away from home. She couldn’t leave her children alone while she
traveled around the country arguing for the right to vote. Then Elizabeth Cady Stanton met Susan B.
Anthony. Susan was working to outlaw slavery and alcohol abuse, and fighting for men and women to
be paid the same wages. Elizabeth’s ideas about woman suffrage- the right to vote- made sense to Susan.
The two women became a team. Elizabeth stayed home, organized meetings, and wrote letters and
speeches. Susan, who had no husband or children, traveled across America giving Elizabeth’s speeches.
Elizabeth said to Susan: “I forged the thunderbolts, she fired them.”
By 1867, Elizabeth’s children were old enough that she could leave them. For the next ten years,
she traveled eight months each year, giving speeches, meeting with lawmakers, and building support all
over America. But it wasn’t until 1920- 18 years after Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s death- that her dream
came true. The 19th Amendment gave American women the right to vote in all elections.
Susan B. Anthony might sit on the face of our dollar coin, but it was her friend, Elizabeth Cady
Stanton, who first inspired women to fight for the right to vote. That busy mother with the sparkling
eyes and kind smile worked tirelessly over her lifetime for what she believed was fair. A thousand
kisses to you, Elizabeth Cady Stanton!
Session 4
Grade 5
The Petticoat Vote
4. Read the sentence from the passage below
“I forged the thunderbolts, she fired them.”
According to the text, the word forged most likely means
A
B
C
D
To create through great effort
To recreate falsely
To accidently create
To create carelessly
5. Read the sentences from the text below
“American women didn’t always have the same rights as men.”
“…but it was her friend, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who first inspired women to fight for the right
to vote.”
Which statement below best reflects the relationship between these two sentences?
A
B
C
D
The first sentence is a supporting detail and the second sentence in the central idea
The first sentence explains the reason for the second sentence
Both describe what life was like for women during the 1800’s
The second sentence is the cause of the first sentence
6. Based on the text, which words best describe Elizabeth Cady Stanton?
A
B
C
D
Determined and courageous
Friendly and intelligent
Dedicated and loyal
Organized and sensitive
7. Describe how Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony worked together to achieve
women’s suffrage. Use two details from the text to support your answer.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony worked together to achieve women’s right to vote.
Elizabeth had young children at home and her husband was often away (detail #1). So from home she
organized meeting and wrote speeches while Susan traveled across the country giving the speeches
(detail #2).