Ch. 19 Sect. 4
Suffrage At Last
Objectives:
1. List some of the efforts Susan B. Anthony and other
women made in their quest to win suffrage at the turn of the
century.
2. Summarize the different strategies that suffragists used to
win the vote.
3. Analyze the factors that led to a final victory for the
suffragists.
Main Idea:
While demonstrating their skills as organizers and activists,
women finally won the right to vote with the ratification of
the 19th Amendment in 1920.
Early Suffrage Movement
  The women’s suffrage movement began in
Seneca Falls, New York in 1848.
  It will take women 72 years to officially be given
the right to vote all across the United States.
  The movement gained publicity when Susan B.
Anthony was arrested with a group of women
for demanding to vote in 1872. Her act of civil
disobedience resulted in a conviction and $100
fine (which she refused to pay).
Bradwell v. Illinois
  Women did make some progress through the
years. By 1900, married women could buy, sell,
and will property. Women still however, were
primarily expected to remain at home.
  In 1873, Bradwell v. Illinois, Myra Bradwell was
denied a state license to practice law. She sued
the state and her case went all the way to the
U.S. Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court
upheld the decision by Illinois and refused to
issue her a law license (given license in 1890).
Myra Bradwell
1831 - 1894
Suffrage Strategies
  The suffrage movement had two strategies and
was led by the NAWSA organization: 1) pressure
each state to give women the right to vote or
2) to get an amendment added to the
Constitution giving all women the right to vote.
  Strategy number one in the beginning was the
most successful, especially out west. From
1890 - 1918, 15 states gave women the right to
vote and 27 states allowed women to vote in
the 1916 presidential election.
Suffrage Strategies Continued
  Adding an amendment to the Constitution was
much more difficult.
  Women first asked for an amendment in 1868
and Susan B. Anthony asked for an amendment
in 1878.
  By 1917, NAWSA was the largest volunteer
organization in the U.S. (2 million) pushing for
women’s suffrage.
19th Amendment
  World War I showed that women were vital to
the success of the United States and prohibition
(18th amendment passed in 1919) kept alcohol
makers for trying to keep women from voting.
  The NAWSA, World War I, and prohibition all
helped women finally earn the right to vote
statewide.
  Finally, the 19th amendment was ratified
August 26, 1920, allowing all women the right
to vote.