Taking The Law Into Our Hands and Two Paths to Women's Equality

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Recommended: Women suffrage roles late 1800s

During the Reconstruction era, supporters of women’s rights employed a legislative and organizational means in their battle for equal rights and suffrage. The successes and failures experienced by the 14th and 15th amendments helped shape the landscape of the American suffrage movement that culminated in the 19th amendment. The assigned readings addresses the legislative and organizational avenues that were actively utilized by advocates of women’s rights and suffrage, albeit in slightly different ways. The two readings align well with each other, each bringing an unique perspective of a significant historical phrase within the women’s rights movement in the United States.

The first reading, “Taking the Law Into Our Hands: Bradwell, Minor and Suffrage Militance in the 1870s” by Ellen Carol DuBois addresses the early history of women’s rights claim in US legislation, specifically the fourteenth and fifteenth Amendments of the US Constitution. DuBois explores the legal arguments that were utilized by suffragists, the popular support and militant activism that was inspired by the legal arguments, and the defeat of the claims of women’s rights under the 14th and 15th amendments. Drawing upon the legal cases of Bradwell and Minor, DuBois illustrates how the militance of the suffrage movement evolved in response to the decisions by the Supreme Court in these cases. More specifically, DuBois illustrates the importance of understanding the issues involved with the 14th and 15th amendments and its implications for the American suffrage movement. Women’s rights were treated quite differently, as something to be won and exercised collectively rather than individually; as object of political struggle as much as of judicial resolution...

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...de by both which ultimately served as the forerunners of modern feminism.

Both readings addresses significant aspects of the American suffrage movement, the main ideologies, individual and collective actions undertook, the specific strategies and tactics expected for a viable outcome, which was to work within the constraints of the legal and political arenas for the recognition of equal citizenship between the sexes. Both are equally valuable and contributes significantly to the current wealth of historical studies concerning the American suffrage movement. My only criticism of both readings would be the lack of attention to the non traditional women: the poor class, freedwomen of color, and many more. I do feel both readings would be significantly enhanced if an inclusion was made of the women outside of the traditional upper and middle class white women.

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