Susan B. Anthony's Suffrage Movement

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“Our Democratic and Republican government is based on the idea that every person shall have a voice and a vote in the making the laws and putting them to work. It is we, the people -- all the people -- not just white men or men only, who formed this nation. We formed it to get liberty not just for half of us -- not just for half of our children -- but for all, women as well as men” (qtd. Susan B. Anthony). Therefore, Anthony wanted to be equal and have the same opportunities as men. During Anthony’s lifetime of commitment to woman suffrage, she became the president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association and an advocate for many women. Anthony pushed for suffrage till the very end and she “Composed her last amendment to the United …show more content…

in Fowler 153-154). Chapman was very head strong, she knew what she believed in and fought for what she believed was right since she was younger, and will do so until her last breath. Furthermore, what marked the beginning of her suffragette journey was the election of 1872 when she noticed her father leaving to go cast his vote for the presidential election and not her mother. So Chapman asked her mother why she did not go and her response was laughter from the whole family. Suddenly in that moment, something bigger was emerging inside of Chapman. That election helped blossom a striving young suffragist activist that would continue to fight for a change among the lives of women forever. (“Votes for Woman: The Story of Carrie Chapman Catt …show more content…

Nonetheless, it was up to the states to finalize the amendment. The obstacle was only that thirty-five states had approved the amendment but the Southern states already said no the amendment except for one state, Tennessee. The fate of women for the years to come was in Tennessee’s hands when the vote of the state legislators was announced to be a tie of 48-48. In addition, Tennessee's final decision came down to the vote of a Representative and Republican named Harry T. Burn; however, he did, in fact, oppose the amendment, his mother persuaded him to approve it. It is said that she wrote him a letter saying “Don’t forget to be a good boy and help Mrs. Catt put the ‘rat’ in ratification” because of this note Burn voted for the amendment and it became ratified. Despite the rejection of the other twelve states early on, sixty years later, they eventually ratified the amendment and the state of Mississippi was the very last to pass it on March 22, 1984. (“19th amendment-Women’s History”) The ratifying of the 19th amendment would impact the American Society in tremendous

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