Women’sRightsandtheNorthCarolinaConstitution
Overview
Studentswilllearnaboutthehistoryofwomen’srightsinNorthCarolinaandtheroleoftheNorthCarolina
Constitutioninbothrestrictingandexpandingthoserightsthroughouttime.StudentswillexploretwoNorth
CarolinaSupremeCourtcases-InReApplicationofHoltonandKirkpatrickv.Crutchfield-thatgrappledwith
thelegalrightsofwomen.
Grade
8
NorthCarolinaEssentialStandards
• 8.H.1.2-Summarizetheliteralmeaningofhistoricaldocumentsinordertoestablishcontext.
• 8.C&G.1.1-Summarizedemocraticidealsexpressedinlocal,state,andnationalgovernment(e.g.limited
government,popularsovereignty,separationofpowers,republicanism,federalismandindividualrights).
• 8.C&G.1.2-EvaluatethedegreetowhichdemocraticidealsareevidentinhistoricaldocumentsfromNorth
CarolinaandtheUnitedStates(e.g.theMecklenburgResolves,theHalifaxResolves,theDeclarationof
Independence,theArticlesofConfederation,theBillofRightsandtheprinciplesoutlinedintheUS
ConstitutionandNorthCarolinaConstitutionsof1776,1868and1971).
• 8.C&G.1.2-EvaluatethedegreetowhichdemocraticidealsareevidentinhistoricaldocumentsfromNorth
CarolinaandtheUnitedStates(e.g.theMecklenburgResolves,theHalifaxResolves,theDeclarationof
Independence,theArticlesofConfederation,theBillofRightsandtheprinciplesoutlinedintheUS
ConstitutionandNorthCarolinaConstitutionsof1776,1868and1971).
• 8.C&G.1.4-AnalyzeaccesstodemocraticrightsandfreedomsamongvariousgroupsinNorthCarolinaand
theUnitedStates(e.g.enslavedpeople,women,wageearners,landlessfarmers,AmericanIndians,African
Americansandotherethnicgroups).
EssentialQuestions
• WhatarethemajortenetsoftheNorthCarolinaSupremeCourtcase,InReApplicationofHolton?
• WhatarethemajortenetsoftheNorthCarolinaSupremeCourtcase,Kirkpatrickv.Crutchfield?
• HowdidthesecasesaffecttherightsofwomeninNorthCarolina?
• WhatareotherconstitutionalissuesthataroseinNorthCarolinarelatedtowomen’srights?
• HowhavetherightsofwomenevolvedovertimeinNorthCarolina?
• Howdidnationaleventsimpacttheattitudesandactionstowardswomen’srightshereinNorthCarolina?
Materials
• Women’sRightsandtheNorthCarolinaConstitutionGuidedNotes,attached
• “Women’sRightsandtheNorthCarolinaConstitutionPowerPoint,”availableinCarolinaK-12’sDatabase
ofK-12ResourcesinPDFformat:
o http://civics.sites.unc.edu/files/2012/05/WomenandtheNorth-CarolinaConstitutionPPT1.pdf
o ToviewthisPDFasaprojectablepresentation,savethefile,click“View”inthetopmenubarofthe
file,andselect“FullScreenMode”
o TorequestaneditablePPTversionofthispresentation,[email protected]
• InReApplicationofHolton-CaseSummarySheet,attached
• Kirkpatrickv,Crutchfield-CaseSummarySheet,attached
o Teachersareadvisedtocopythesetwosummariesondifferentcolorsofpaper,makingthetransition
intogroupswhenreviewingthecaseseasier(see#4under“Procedure.”)
• TenReasonsSentenceStrips
1
• Sampletestquestionsandkey,attached(optional)
Duration
60-90minutes
Preparation
Thewarmupactivityinvolvessimulatinginequalitybetweenmenandwomen.Teachersshouldassumethe
personaofsomeonewhoissexistagainstwomen,allowingmalestudentsmoreprivilegesandrights.Afterthis
briefwarmuphowever,itisimportanttomakesurestudentsunderstandthatthiswasafictionalexerciseand
assuageanyhurtfeelings.
Procedure
Warm-Up:TheGUYSInThisClassroomAreDoingaGREATJob!
1. Asstudentsenter,havethemtaketheirseatsandbeginbrainstormingthequestion,“Whatdoyouknow
abouttheNorthCarolinaConstitution?”Whilestudentswrite,circulatearoundtheroomandcompliment
onlymalestudentsontheirworkoutloud.Begintohandoutpiecesofcandytomalestudentsaswell,
tellingthemwhatafantasticjobtheyaredoing.Iffemalestudentsprotest,explainthatyoujustdon’tfeel
theyaredoingasgoodofajobasthemalestudentsare.Tellthemyoufeelthemalestudentsaresimply
workingharderandcreatingbetteranswers.Continuetofavorallofthemalestudentsintheclassroom,
encouragingthemtoenjoytheircandyandtoignoreprotestsfromthefemales.Ifyouarefeelingextra
pugnacious,youmayeventalkaboutgivingextracredittotheboysforthefantasticjobtheyaredoing.
2. Finally,afteraround5minutes,stoptheexerciseoffavoritismandapologizetostudentsfortreatingthem
unfairly.(Ifanytreatsweresharedwiththemalestudents,thoseshouldnowbegiventothefemale
studentsaswell.)Letstudentsknowthatyouwereplayingaroleinordertogleantheiropinionsand
discuss:
• Wereyoualltreatedequallyduringthewarm-uptoday?Whatseemedtodeterminewhowastreated
withfavoritism?
• Girls,howdidyoufeelduringthewarm-up?
• Guys,howwouldyoufeelifthetableswereturned,andyouwerebeingtreatedunfairlybecauseof
yourgender?
• Whattimesthroughouthistorycanyouthinkofwhenfemalesweretreateddifferentlythanmales,or
hadtheirrightsrestrictedbecauseoftheirgender?
• Whatroledoyouthinkthewrittenlawhadinthisdifferenttreatment?
3. TellstudentsthattheywilllearntodayabouttheroleofwomeninNorthCarolinaandhowithasevolved
overtime.TellstudentstheywillexaminetwoNorthCarolinaSupremeCourtcasesthatgrappledwiththe
rightsofwomeninNorthCarolina,aswellashowtheNorthCarolinaConstitutionhasaffectedtherights
ofwomeninthestate.
WomenandtheNorthCarolinaConstitution
4. Beginwithsomebackgroundinformationusingthe“Women’sRightsandtheNorthCarolinaConstitution
PowerPoint,”availableintheDatabaseofCivicResources.Givestudentstheattachednoteshandoutsto
fillin.ThePowerPointandnotes,whichdescribethe14thand19thamendmentstotheUSConstitution,
relevantsectionsintheNorthCarolinaConstitutionregardingtherightsofwomen,andimportant
momentsinwomen’shistory,willtakeapproximately20minutes.(Timewillvarybasedonhowmuch
discussionteachersfacilitatethroughoutthePPT.)
GroupActivity:NCCaseStudies
5. Uponcompletingthenotes,tellstudentsthattheywillbeexploringtwocasesfromourstateinwhich
women’srightsweredebated.BreakstudentsintopairsandgiveeachpaireithertheHoltoncaseorthe
2
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Kirkpatrickcase.(Trytoensureanequalnumberofpairsdealwitheachcase.)Tellstudentstotakeafew
momentstoreadthroughthecasesummarizeindividually.Afteraninitialread,studentsshouldtake1015todiscussthecasewiththeirpartner,reviewingthefactsofthecaseandclarifyinganyquestionseither
ofthemhad.Aftertheirdiscussion,studentsshouldtogetheranswerthequestionsregardingthecase
providedontheirhandout.
Next,combineeachpairofstudentswhoworkedontheKirkpatrickcasewithapairofstudentswho
workedontheHoltoncase,creatingnewgroupsof4.Eachpairshouldtake5minutestoteachtheother
pairintheirgroupabouttheircase,andviceversa.
Oncegroupshavefinishedsharing,bringstudentsbacktogetherandaskfortwostudentvolunteersto
summarizeeachcase.Clarifyanymisunderstandingsandfurtherdiscuss:
a. WhatwerethemajorpointsintheHoltonCase?Howwerefemalerightsdifferentin1878thantoday?
b. WhatwerethemajorpointsoftheKirkpatrickCase?Howdoyouthinktheenvironmentwasdifferent
forfemalesin1919thanitistoday?
c. WhatconstitutionalprinciplesprotecttherightsofwomeninNorthCarolina?InAmerica?
d. Doyoufeelthereareareasofpresentsocietywherewomenstillreceivedifferenttreatment?Explain.
e. Ifyes,aretheinequitiesyou’veidentifiedaresultofformallawsorsocietalbehavior/expectations?
Explain.
TenReasonsWhyWomenShould
Projectslide12ofthePPT,whichisanimageofapamphletproducedbytheEqualSuffrageOrganization
ofNorthCarolinabetween1915-1920,titled“TwelveReasonsWhyWomenShouldVote.”Beforetelling
thestudentsanythingabouttheimage,discuss:
• Whatdoyouseehere?
• Forwhatpurposedoyouthinkthisdocumentwascreated?
• Whenmightithavebeencreated?Whatevidencemakesyouthinkthis?
• Evaluatetheeffectivenessofthereasonsprovided.Aretheyconvincing?Whyarewhynot?
• Inyouropinion,whichisthemostcompellingreasonnotedthatwomenshouldvote?
• Whatreasonswouldyouaddtothislist?
Explaintostudentsthatsuffragemovementleadersoftendistributedpamphletslikethesetobuild
supportforwomen’srights.Toculminatethelesson,instructstudents(eitherinpairsorindividually)to
completetheirownlistof“TenReasonsWhyWomenShould…”Giveeachpaironeoftheattached“Ten
ReasonsWhyWomenShould…”assignmentstobasetheirlistupon.Studentscancreateasimplelistwith
pencilsandnotebookpaper,orteacherscanprovidemarkersandchartpapertoencouragemoreartistic
creativityinthelistscreated.Oncestudentshavecompletedtheirlists,havethempostthemaroundthe
room.Iftimepermits,givestudents5-10minutestowalkaroundtheroomreadingoneanother’slists.
Debriefbydiscussing:
• Whatwasyourfavoritelistorreasonthatyouviewedandwhy?
• Ofalltheserightsnoted–allofwhichwomenhavebeendeprivedofatsomepoint-whichdoyou
thinkismostimportantandwhy?
OptionalHomeworkorAssessment:Passouttheattachedsampletestitemsforstudentstocomplete
individually.
Resources
• DocumentingtheAmericanSouth:ExploreWomen’sHistoryinNorthCarolina
(http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/legalstatus/menu.html).
3
•
•
•
•
TabithaAnneHolton:FirstinNorthCarolina,FirstintheSouth.
(http://womenslegalhistory.stanford.edu/papers/HoltonT-Harris02.pdf).
NorthCarolinaConstitution:(http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/legislation/constitution/ncconstitution.html).
NorthCarolinaMuseumofHistory:Women’sHistory
(http://ncmuseumofhistory.org/nchh/womenshist.html)
NorthCarolinaWomen:MakingHistorybyMargaretSuppleeSmithandEmilyHerringWilson(UNCPress)
4
Women’sRightsandtheNorthCarolinaConstitution
Name: Period:
Date:
The14thAmendment,USConstitution
“AllpersonsbornornaturalizedintheUnitedStates,andsubjecttothejurisdictionthereof,
arecitizensoftheUnitedStatesandoftheStatewhereintheyreside.Nostateshallmakeorenforceanylawwhichshall
abridgetheprivilegesorimmunitiesofcitizensoftheUnitedStates;norshallanyStatedepriveanypersonoflife,liberty,
orproperty,withoutdueprocessoflaw;nordenytoanypersonwithinitsjurisdictiontheequalprotectionofthelaws.”
Whatdoesthismean?HowdoesthisAmendmentspecificallyapplytowomen?
EqualProtectionoftheLaw:
The19thAmendment,USConstitution
“TherightofcitizensoftheUnitedStatestovoteshallnotbedeniedorabridgedbytheUnitedStatesorbyanyStateon
accountofsex.Congressshallhavepowertoenforcethisarticlebyappropriatelegislation.”
Whatdoesthismean?
TheNorthCarolinaConstitution
ArticleI,Section1:
ArticleI,Section19:
ArticleI,Section26:
ArticleX,Section4:
5
Women’sRightsandtheNorthCarolinaConstitution-Page
2
AreasforConsideration(CurrentNorthCarolinaConstitution):
ArticleII,Section6:EachSenator,atthetimeofhiselection,shallbenotlessthan25yearsofage,
shallbeaqualifiedvoteroftheState,andshallhaveresidedintheStateasacitizenfortwoyears
andinthedistrictforwhichheischosenforoneyearimmediatelyprecedinghiselection.
ArticleII,Section5:EachRepresentative,atthetimeofhiselection,shallbeaqualifiedvoterofthe
State, and shall have resided in the district for which he is chosen for one year immediately
precedinghiselection
ArticleIII,Section2(2):NopersonshallbeeligibleforelectiontotheofficeofGovernororLieutenantGovernor,unless,at
thetimeofhiselection,heshallhaveattainedtheageof30yearsandshallhavebeenacitizenoftheUnitedStatesforfive
yearsandaresidentofthisStatefortwoyearsimmediatelyprecedinghiselection.
Inwhatwaydoyouthinkthispassageappliestoorexcludeswomen?
Whatareotherfamousdocumentsthatuse“men,”butmankindismeantinstead?
SomeFamousMomentsinNorthCarolinaHistory:
1774–
1878–
1919–
1920–
1949–
1962–
1974–
2008–
6
Women’sRightsandtheNorthCarolinaConstitution
ANSWERKEY
The14thAmendment
“AllpersonsbornornaturalizedintheUnitedStates,andsubjecttothejurisdictionthereof,
arecitizensoftheUnitedStatesandoftheStatewhereintheyreside.Nostateshallmake
orenforceanylawwhichshallabridgetheprivilegesorimmunitiesofcitizensoftheUnited
States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due
processoflaw;nordenytoanypersonwithinitsjurisdictiontheequalprotectionofthe
laws.”
Whatdoesthismean?Howdoesthisapplytowomen?HowdoesthisAmendmentspecificallyapplytowomen?
ThisamendmentwaspassedaftertheCivilWar,andallowsfordueprocesstobeservedwheneversomeoneistriedfora
crime.ItalsomeansthateveryoneintheUnitedStatesisaffordedprotectionsundertheConstitution,includingdueprocess
protections.TheAmendmentwasinresponsetotheCivilWar,buteventuallythesuffragemovementattemptedtousethe
amendment to develop women’s suffrage. This is the first article of the amendment, and does not include any gender
references(unlikelaterpartsoftheamendment).TheargumentwasnotacceptedbytheSupremeCourtuntil1971,when
th
theBergerCourtdeclaredthatthe14 doesextendtowomen.
EqualProtectionoftheLaw:ThismeantthatallstateswererequiredtoprovideequalprotectiontoallcitizensintheUnites
States.NostatecouldpassalawbanningarightprotectedbytheConstitution.ThiswasfoughtwiththeJimCrowLawsin
theSouthandotherlawsdesignedtodiscriminateagainstcitizensoftheUnitedStates.
The19thAmendment
“TherightofcitizensoftheUnitedStatestovoteshallnotbedeniedorabridgedbytheUnitedStatesorbyanyStateon
accountofsex.Congressshallhavepowertoenforcethisarticlebyappropriatelegislation.”
Whatdoesthismean?
Thiswasthefruitofthewomen’ssuffragemovement.ItallowedwomentovoteintheUnitedStates.NorthCarolinadid
not ratify the amendment until 1971, 51 years after it was passed in 1920. The only state to wait longer to ratify the
amendmentwasMississippiin1984.
TheNorthCarolinaConstitution
Article I, Section 1: All persons are created equal and endowed with “inalienable rights,” including life, liberty, and the
pursuitofhappiness.ThisreflectstheDeclarationofIndependence.
ArticleI,Section19:Nopersonshallbeimprisoned,ordeprivedoflife,libertyorproperty.Nopersonshallbedeniedequal
protection,ordiscriminatedagainstbecauseofrace,color,religionornationalorigin.Doesthefactthatpersonisused
insteadofmanmeanthatgenderisalsoincludedindueprocess?
ArticleI,Section26:Noindividualwillbeexcusedfromjurydutyonaccountofsex,race,color,religion,ornaturalorigin.
ThiswasputintotheNCConstitutionin1868,farbeforethewomen’srightsmovement.
ArticleX,Section4:Marriedwomencanownanddisposeoftheirproperty,justastheirhusbandscan.Thiswasalsoput
intothe1868NCConstitution,establishingaprecedentforwomen’srights.
7
Women’sRightsandtheNorthCarolinaConstitution–Page
2
AreasforConsideration:
ArticleII,Section6:EachSenator,atthetimeofhiselection,shallbenotlessthan25yearsofage,
shallbeaqualifiedvoteroftheState,andshallhaveresidedintheStateasacitizenfortwoyears
andinthedistrictforwhichheischosenforoneyearimmediatelyprecedinghiselection.
ArticleII,Section5:EachRepresentative,atthetimeofhiselection,shallbeaqualifiedvoterofthe
State, and shall have resided in the district for which he is chosen for one year immediately
precedinghiselection
ArticleIII,Section2(2):NopersonshallbeeligibleforelectiontotheofficeofGovernororLieutenantGovernor,unless,at
thetimeofhiselection,heshallhaveattainedtheageof30yearsandshallhavebeenacitizenoftheUnitedStatesforfive
yearsandaresidentofthisStatefortwoyearsimmediatelyprecedinghiselection.
Inwhatwaydoyouthinkthispassageappliestoorexcludeswomen?Thereisalargeusageof“he”and“his,”whichmay
beexclusionarytowomen.Ontheotherhand,someonecouldinterpret“Men”tomeanallofhumankind.
Whatareotherfamousdocumentsthatuse“men,”butmankindismeantinstead?“Allmenarecreatedequal…”–Dec.of
Ind.
SomeFamousMomentsinNorthCarolinaHistory:
1774–Fifty-onewomengatheredattheEdentonTeaPartytoprotestBritishtaxationofteaandformallyboycottBritish
goods.
1878–TabithaHoltonwasthefirstwomantoearnherNorthCarolinalawlicense.Shewasalsothefirstwomantoearn
herlawlicenseintheSouth,andoneofthefirstintheUnion.
1919–TheKirkpatrickv.Crutchfieldcasewasdecided,whichupheldtheMartinActof1913.Thisactgavewomentheright
tosuefordamageswhentheirrighttopropertywasviolated.
1920 – The first woman is elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives. Lillian Exum Clement represented
BuncombeCounty.TheNorthCarolinaLeagueofWomenVotersalsoencouragedwomentoexercisetheirnewlyacquired
th
righttovotethroughthe19 amendment.
1949 – Governor Kerr Scott appointed Susie Sharp to become the first superior court judge in North Carolina. Funny
anecdotetosharewithyourstudents:AfterSharpbecameaSuperiorCourtjudge,TomBostoftheGreensboroDailyNews
questioned"whatwouldhappenifSharpwasfacedwithtryingacaseofrape?Wouldn'tthatbetoomuchforawoman?"
JudgeSharpwrotebackthat"Inthefirstplace,therecouldhavebeennorapehadnotawomanbeenpresent,andIconsider
iteminentlyfittingthatonebeinonthe'pay-off'."
1962–SharpisappointedthefirstfemaleassociatejusticeoftheNCSupremeCourtbyGovernorTerrySanford.
1974–SharpbecomesthefirstfemaleChiefJusticeoftheNorthCarolinaSupremeCourtbyelection.Sharpisthefirst
womanelectedtothatpositioninthecountry.
2008–GovernorBeverlyPerduebecomesthefirstfemaleGovernorofNorthCarolina.
8
CASESUMMARY:InReApplicationofHolton(1878)
Directions:
• Readthecasesummarybyyourselffortwotothreeminutes.
• Withapartner,discussthecaseandanswerthediscussionquestionsprovided.
• Withyourpartner,developanexplanationofthecasetosharewithotherclassmates
whoreadadifferentcase.Youwillberequiredtoshareyourcasewiththeotherpair,
providingyouranswerstothediscussionquestionsandansweringanyquestionsthattheotherpairhas
aboutyourcase.Yourpresentationshouldlastthreetofourminutes.Yourpairwillpresentfirst.
• Whenyouarefinishedpresenting,youwillthenlistentotheotherpair’ssummaryoftheircase,taking
notesontheircase.Youshouldaskquestionsoftheotherpairaboutthecaseaswell.
CaseSummary
In1878,TabithaHoltonbecamethefirstwomantoearnherlawlicenseinNorthCarolina,butshedidnotdo
soeasily.Atthetime,NorthCarolinarefusedtograntwomenadmissiontothebarbasedontheirgender.
Tabitha,whogrewupinafamilyinwhicheducationwasveryimportant,developedastronginterestinthelaw
andheldambitionsofbeingadmittedtotheNorthCarolinabar.In1878,afteryearsofhardworkandstudy,
25-year-oldTabithaaccompaniedher22-year-oldyoungerbrother,Samuel,toRaleigh,wherebothplannedto
takethebarexam.However,sincenowomanhadevertakentheexamnorbeenadmittedtothebarinNorth
Carolina,theStaterefusedtogiveTabithatheexamarguingthatwomenwerenoteligible.
TabithaenlistedthehelpofoneofNorthCarolina’sprimecivilrightsadvocates,AlbionTourgee,inorderto
challengetheState.AspecialhearingoftheNorthCarolinaSupremeCourtwascalledtodecideTabitha’s
futureandTourgeesoundlyarguedhercase.Atthetime,theNorthCarolinalawregardingattorneypractice
usedthelanguage:“allpersonswhomayapplyforadmissiontopractice…”TheStatearguedthatwomen
werenotincludedintheterm“persons”whenthegoverningstatutewasoriginallyframedandthusthey
shouldnotbeadmittedtothebar.
Tourgeeontheotherhandarguedthattheterm‘persons’couldbeconstruedtoincludewomen.Whilethe
legislaturehadnotconsideredwomenpracticinglawwhentheydraftedit,theyalsohadnotspecifically
excludedwomen,hemaintained.HereferencedarecentcaseintheNorthCarolinaSupremeCourtwhere
‘persons’wasfoundtoincludeblackmales,whichthelegislaturehadalsonotconsideredatthetimeof
enactingthatlaw.Tourgeecontestedthatthesamecitizenshiprightsextendedtoformerslavesoughtto
extendtowomenaswell.
TourgeefurthermadeTabitha’scasebypointingoutthatfiveotherstateshadstatutesallowingwomento
becomeattorneys.Healsohighlightedan1868lawthatallowedanyoneadmittedtopracticeinanystateto
practiceanywhereintheUnion.Thiswouldmeanthatawomanadmittedtopracticeinanotherstatewould
thusbeallowedtopracticeinNorthCarolinashouldtheymovehere.Thus,hearguedthatawomanbornand
raisedinNorthCarolinashouldnotbeexcludedfromtheNorthCarolinabar.
HealsoaddressedalawintheNorthCarolinaConstitutionwhichsaidthatwomencouldnotbeelectedto
office.Hepointedoutthatlawyerswereofficersofthecourt,notthestate,sothislawwasinapplicableto
femaleattorneysandcouldnotbeusedasareasontonotadmitTabitha.Inaddition,Tourgeepointedoutthat
whileithadtakenarevolution(thrCivilWar)tochangetheroleofblackmenintheSouth,theCourtshouldbe
enlightenedenoughinmindtochangetheroleofwomen.Young,singlewomanshouldbeallowedtoenter
intoanhonestprofessionandsupportthemselves,heargued.Heconcludedhiscasewiththestatement,“She
asksnofavors,butafairchanceifthecourtcangrantittoher.”
9
TheCourtdeliberatedbrieflyanddecidedtoallowhertotakethebarexamination.Afteransweringthe
questionsposedaccuratelyandwithknowledgeofthelaw,shewasgrantedadmittancetothebarand
Tabitha’slawlicensewasissuedonJanuary9,1878.Withthis,NorthCarolinabecamethefirstSouthernstate,
andonlythesixthstateintheUnion,toadmitwomentothebar.
DiscussionQuestions
1.Whatisthemajorissueinthecase?
2.WhatwasthefinalopinionoftheCourt?
3.WhywastheoutcomeimportanttowomeninNorthCarolina?
4.HowdoestheNorthCarolinaConstitutionrelatetothiscase?
5.Whywouldthecasebecontroversialatthetimeitwasheard?
10
CASESUMMARY:Kirkpatrickv.Crutchfield(1919)
Directions:
• Readthecasesummarybyyourselffortwotothreeminutes.
• Withapartner,discussthecaseandanswerthediscussionquestionsprovided.Youshould
discussforapproximatelyfiveminutes.
• Withyourpartner,developanexplanationofthecasetosharewithotherclassmateswho
readadifferentcase.Youwillberequiredtoshareyourcasewiththeotherpair,providingyouranswers
tothediscussionquestionsandansweringanyquestionsthattheotherpairhasaboutyourcase.Your
presentationshouldlastthreetofourminutes.Yourpairwillpresentsecond.
• Youwilllistentotheotherpair’ssummaryoftheircasefirst,takingnotesontheircase.Youshouldask
questionsoftheotherpairaboutthecaseaswell.Youwillthenpresentyourcaseandtakeanyquestions
theyhave.
CaseSummary
Mr.Crutchfieldandanotherman,WilliamBoswell,wererentinglandinAlamanceCounty,NorthCarolina.
BoswellgavepermissiontoMrs.EulaliaKirkpatricktotiehercowsonaspotonthelandthatCrutchfieldand
Boswellwererenting.Mrs.Kirkpatrickproceededtotiehercowsthere.
Mr.CrutchfieldsawMrs.Kirkpatrickwiththecowsandbecameangry.HestatedBoswellhadnoauthorityto
givepermissiontoMrs.Kirkpatricktotiehercowsthere.Mr.Crutchfield,enraged,untiedthecows.While
Mrs.Kirkpatrickclungtooneendofthecowchain,Mr.Crutchfielddraggedthechainthroughbarbed-wire
fence,throughapublicroadway,forover75feet.Mrs.Kirkpatrickwasbloodiedandwoundedtothepoint
thatshehadamiscarriage.Shewaspermanentlyinjuredandwasanervouswreckforlife.
Mrs.KirkpatricksuedMr.Crutchfieldtorecoverdamagesfortheassault.Mrs.Kirkpatrick’shusbandwasnota
partytothesuit.ThetrialcourtruledinfavorofMrs.Kirkpatrick.Mr.CrutchfieldappealedtotheNorth
CarolinaSupremeCourt.
Appellee’sArgument(Mrs.Kirkpatrick):
Mrs.KirkpatrickarguedthatMr.Crutchfieldusedexcessiveforceagainsther,whichcausedherinjuries.
Therefore,sheshouldbecompensatedbyMr.Crutchfieldforhersevereinjuries.
Appellant’sArgument(Mr.Crutchfield):
Mr.CrutchfieldreliedmoststronglyupontheargumentthatMrs.Kirkpatrickshouldnothavebeenallowedto
suehim.IfanyoneweretobringsuitagainstMr.Crutchfield,itshouldhavebeenMrs.Kirkpatrick’shusband.
ThisargumentisbasedonlawthatcarriedoverintotheUnitedStatesfromnineteenthcenturyEngland.
UndernineteenthcenturyEnglishprincipals,amarriedmanhadtherighttocontrolhiswife,amarriedwoman
onlyhadlimitedpropertyrights,andamarriedwomandidnothavetheabilitytosue.(Theseprincipalsalso
meantthatahusbandwasresponsibleforallinjuriescommittedbyhiswife.Ifawifehitsomeone,itwouldbe
thehusbandwhowouldbeheldresponsible.)Thefactthatwomenownednopersonalpropertywhenthey
enteredmarriagecontributedtothedevelopmentoftheseprincipals.Inordertoprovideasourceforthe
injuredparty’scompensation,thelawhadtomakethehusbandresponsibleforinjuriescommittedbythe
wife.
Attheturnofthetwentiethcentury,statesbegantoenactMarriedWomen’sPropertyActswhichgave
marriedwomentherighttoownproperty.Often,theseactsalsoabolishedahusband’sresponsibilityforhis
11
wife’sconductandgavethewifetherighttosueandbesuedinherownname.
InNorthCarolina,theConstitutionof1868andtheRevisedCodeof1854securedtherightofthemarried
womantoherownproperty.TheMartinActin1913gavemarriedwomentherighttosuefortortdamages.
Court’sDecision
TheNorthCarolinaSupremeCourtruledforMrs.Kirkpatrick.Indoingso,thecourtfollowedthelegislative
intentbehindtheMartinActof1913.
DiscussionQuestions
1.Whatisthemajorissueinthecase?
2.WhatwasthefinalopinionoftheCourt?
3.WhywastheoutcomeimportanttowomeninNorthCarolina?
4.HowdoestheNorthCarolinaConstitutionrelatetothiscase?
5.Whywouldthecasebecontroversialatthetimeitwasheard?
12
TenReasonsWomenShould:
Beallowedtosueotherindividuals
Takeatripbackintimeandthinkoftenreasonsyouwouldarguethatwomenshouldhavetheabove
right.Remember,manypeoplearegoingtobeagainstthisidea,somakeaconvincinglist!Youshould
createaposter/papertobedisplayedintheclassroomexpressingwhywomenshouldhavetheright
orprivilegelisted.Onceagain,thinkofyourselfasarguingthisatatimewhenwomendoNOThave
thisright.
Firstbrainstormonyourassignedtopic;thencreateyourposter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TenReasonsWomenShould:
Beallowedtoownproperty
Takeatripbackintimeandthinkoftenreasonsyouwouldarguethatwomenshouldhavetheabove
right.Remember,manypeoplearegoingtobeagainstthisidea,somakeaconvincinglist!Youshould
createaposter/papertobedisplayedintheclassroomexpressingwhywomenshouldhavetheright
orprivilegelisted.Onceagain,thinkofyourselfasarguingthisatatimewhenwomendoNOThave
thisright.
Firstbrainstormonyourassignedtopic;thencreateyourposter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TenReasonsWomenShould:
Beallowedtofilefordivorce
Takeatripbackintimeandthinkoftenreasonsyouwouldarguethatwomenshouldhavetheabove
right.Remember,manypeoplearegoingtobeagainstthisidea,somakeaconvincinglist!Youshould
createaposter/papertobedisplayedintheclassroomexpressingwhywomenshouldhavetheright
orprivilegelisted.Onceagain,thinkofyourselfasarguingthisatatimewhenwomendoNOThave
thisright.
Firstbrainstormonyourassignedtopic;thencreateyourposter.
13
TenReasonsWomenShould:
Beallowedtospeakfreely
Takeatripbackintimeandthinkoftenreasonsyouwouldarguethatwomenshouldhavetheabove
right.Remember,manypeoplearegoingtobeagainstthisidea,somakeaconvincinglist!Youshould
createaposter/papertobedisplayedintheclassroomexpressingwhywomenshouldhavetheright
orprivilegelisted.Onceagain,thinkofyourselfasarguingthisatatimewhenwomendoNOThave
thisright.
Firstbrainstormonyourassignedtopic;thencreateyourposter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TenReasonsWomenShould:
Beallowedtoholdpoliticaloffice
Takeatripbackintimeandthinkoftenreasonsyouwouldarguethatwomenshouldhavetheabove
right.Remember,manypeoplearegoingtobeagainstthisidea,somakeaconvincinglist!Youshould
createaposter/papertobedisplayedintheclassroomexpressingwhywomenshouldhavetheright
orprivilegelisted.Onceagain,thinkofyourselfasarguingthisatatimewhenwomendoNOThave
thisright.
Firstbrainstormonyourassignedtopic;thencreateyourposter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TenReasonsWomenShould:
Beallowedtoworkinajoboftheirchoosing
Takeatripbackintimeandthinkoftenreasonsyouwouldarguethatwomenshouldhavetheabove
right.Remember,manypeoplearegoingtobeagainstthisidea,somakeaconvincinglist!Youshould
createaposter/papertobedisplayedintheclassroomexpressingwhywomenshouldhavetheright
orprivilegelisted.Onceagain,thinkofyourselfasarguingthisatatimewhenwomendoNOThave
thisright.
Firstbrainstormonyourassignedtopic;thencreateyourposter.
14
TenReasonsWomenShould:
Beallowedtoserveonjuries
Takeatripbackintimeandthinkoftenreasonsyouwouldarguethatwomenshouldhavetheabove
right.Remember,manypeoplearegoingtobeagainstthisidea,somakeaconvincinglist!Youshould
createaposter/papertobedisplayedintheclassroomexpressingwhywomenshouldhavetheright
orprivilegelisted.Onceagain,thinkofyourselfasarguingthisatatimewhenwomendoNOThave
thisright.
Firstbrainstormonyourassignedtopic;thencreateyourposter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TenReasonsWomenShould:
Beallowedtoobtainaneducation
Takeatripbackintimeandthinkoftenreasonsyouwouldarguethatwomenshouldhavetheabove
right.Remember,manypeoplearegoingtobeagainstthisidea,somakeaconvincinglist!Youshould
createaposter/papertobedisplayedintheclassroomexpressingwhywomenshouldhavetheright
orprivilegelisted.Onceagain,thinkofyourselfasarguingthisatatimewhenwomendoNOThave
thisright.
Firstbrainstormonyourassignedtopic;thencreateyourposter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TenReasonsWomenShould:
Beallowedtoserveinthemilitary
Takeatripbackintimeandthinkoftenreasonsyouwouldarguethatwomenshouldhavetheabove
right.Remember,manypeoplearegoingtobeagainstthisidea,somakeaconvincinglist!Youshould
createaposter/papertobedisplayedintheclassroomexpressingwhywomenshouldhavetheright
orprivilegelisted.Onceagain,thinkofyourselfasarguingthisatatimewhenwomendoNOThave
thisright.
Firstbrainstormonyourassignedtopic;thencreateyourposter.
15
Name:
Period:
Date:
1.ThefourteenthamendmenttotheUnited
StatesConstitutioncontainswhichofthese
clauses?
A.
CommerceClause
B.
FreedomofSpeechClause
C.
Women’sSuffrageClause
D.
EqualProtectionClause
2.Thenineteenthamendmentprovidedwhich
ofthesegroupswiththerighttovoteinall
Americanelections?
A.
African-Americans
B.
Women
C.
Individualsover18yearsold
D.
Foreign-born,naturalizedcitizens
3.Whichofthefollowingisguaranteedunder
theNorthCarolinaConstitution?
A.
Therighttoaneducation
B.
Equalprotectionrights
C.
Therighttoserveonajury
D.
Alloftheabove
4.Amajorityopinionis
___________________________________.
A.
Anopinionheldbythemajorityofthe
populaceinthestate.
B.
Awrittencourtopinionheldbythe
majorityofjudges(justices)thatisthebinding
legalrulinginacase.
C.
Awrittencourtopinionheldbya
majorityofjudges(justices)thatexpressesthe
court’sfeelings,buthasnoeffect.
D.
Apolicydocumentissuedbyacourtto
enactlawthatreflectsthewillofamajorityof
thestate’spopulation
5.Ajusticewritesaconcurrentopinionwhen:
A.
He/shedisagreeswiththemajority
B.
He/sheagreeswiththemajorityentirely
andsohe/sheconcurswiththeopinionwritten
byanotherjustice
C.
He/sheagreeswiththemajority,but
arrivedatthedecisioninadifferentwaythan
themajority
D.
He/shedisagreeswiththecourtand
concurswiththemajorityofthepopulation
16
AnswerKey
1.D
2.B
3.D
4.B
5.C
17