Name Period
The Nineteenth Amendment
The beginning of the fight for women suffrage is usually traced to the ‘Declaration of Sentiments’ produced at the first woman’s rights convention in Seneca Falls, N. Y. in 1848. Four years later, at the Woman’s Rights Convention in Syracuse in 1852, Susan B. Anthony joined the fight, arguing that ‘the right women needed above every
other...was the right of suffrage. During debates on the Reconstruction Amendments which extended the vote to ex‐slaves (through the 15th Amendment), suffragists pushed hard for ‘universal suffrage,’ but they never had a chance.
In 1872, suffragists brought a series of court challenges designed to test whether voting was a ‘privilege’ of ‘U. S. citizenship’ now belonging to women by virtue of the recently adopted 14th Amendment. One such challenge grew out of a criminal prosecution of Susan B. Anthony for illegally voting in the 1872 election. The first case to make its way to the Supreme Court, however, was Minor vs. Happersett (1875). In Minor, a unanimous Court rejected the argument that either the privileges and immunities clause or the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment extended the vote to women. Following Minor, suffragists turned their attention from the courts to the states and to Congress.
In 1878, a constitutional amendment was proposed that provided ‘The right of citizens to vote shall not be abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.’ This same amendment would be introduced in every session of Congress for the next 41 years.
In July 1890, the Territory of Wyoming, which allowed women to vote, was admitted as a state. Wyoming became the first state with women suffrage. By 1900, Utah, Colorado, and Idaho joined Wyoming in allowing women to vote.
In 1912, Theodore Roosevelt’s Progressive (Bull Moose) Party became the first national political party to have a plank supporting women suffrage. The tide was beginning to turn.
In May, 1919, the necessary two‐thirds vote in favor of the women suffrage amendment was finally mustered in Congress, and the proposed amendment was sent to the states for ratification. By July 1920, with a number of primarily southern states adamantly opposed to the amendment, it all came down to Tennessee. It appeared that the amendment might fail by one vote in the Tennessee house, but twenty‐four‐year‐old Harry Burn surprised observers by casting the deciding vote for ratification. At the time of his vote, Burn had in his pocket a letter he had received from his mother urging him, ‘Don't forget to be a good boy’ and ‘vote for suffrage.’ Women had finally won the vote.
Source: umkc.edu
1. When did the fight for women’s suffrage begin?
2. Why were women disappointed after passage of the Fifteenth Amendment?
3. What was the Court’s decision in Minor vs. Happersett?
Analyze the following chart: The Traditional Role of Women: ‐ The U.S. was a patriarchal society ‐ Men held positions of authority and women were considered inferior ‐ Women were excluded from public life
‐ In the early 19th century, no American college would accept women ‐In most states, once a woman married she lost control of her property and wages to her husband The Seneca Falls Convention, 1848: ‐ The abolitionist movement helped trigger the movement for women’s rights ‐ In 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, organized a Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York ‐ This event is often seen as the start of the Women’s Rights Movement in the United states ‐Paraphrasing the Declaration of Independence: “all men and women are created equal...” Changing Roles for Women: ‐ Industrialization brought important changes to the traditional role of women ‐ Free public schools became open to both boys and girls ‐ A few special colleges opened for women ‐ Inventions such as the sewing machine, typewriter, and telephone added new job opportunities for women ‐ New labor‐saving devices (washing machines, etc.) helped reduce housework
Document Analysis:
According to this document, what were two arguments suffragists used in this 1915 flier in support of their goal?
(1) (2)
What was a goal of the women shown in these photographs?
As shown in these photographs, what was one method being used by women to achieve their goal?
Harry Burn’s Letter from His Mother
…In fact, Febb Burn [Harry Burn’s mother] wrote more than a few lines in regards to supporting ratification, which were interspersed among other family matters, in a seven‐page letter to Harry.
Dear Son … Hurray and vote for Suffrage and don’t keep them in doubt. I noticed Chandlers’ speech, it was very
bitter. I’ve been waiting to see how you stood but have not seen anything yet…Don’t forget to be a god boy and
help Mrs. Catt with her ‘Rats.’ Is she the one that put rat in ratification, Ha! No more from mama this time.
With lots of love, Mama.
Burn had read and re‐read the words from his mother that he had just received and he hoped that he would not have to take a definitive stand on the measure until after the election. In fact, Burn had earlier told a prominent suffragist lobbyist that his vote would never hurt their cause, which led many to believe he was in fact a supporter of woman suffrage, but a legislator conflicted by the will of his constituents.
Despite his pledge to the suffragist, Burn did not believe he would ever have to take a definitive stand on the issue at this point in time. Nevertheless, when the ‘antis’ made a move to kill the bill by calling for a vote on the
amendment itself, Burn faced a moral dilemma – to vote against the amendment and remain faithful to his ‘anti’ constituents in light of his upcoming re‐election campaign or remain faithful to the wishes of his mother.
The House clerk proceeded to call the roll for the third time, this time, a vote to decide the fate of the 19th Amendment in Tennessee. When the clerk called his name, Burn voted ‘Aye.’ His vote came so quickly, so unexpectedly, that many in the galleries and on the House floor were caught off guard. Several thought that the young Republican freshman had innocently become confused by the prior two votes and meant to vote “Nay” instead of ‘Aye.’
Indeed, Burn had made no mistake. He had cast his ballot for woman suffrage, and thus, cast the key ballot in the 49‐47 vote that made the 19th Amendment the supreme law of the land.”
Years later, Burn proudly reflected on his deciding vote: “I had always believed that women had an inherent right to vote. It was a logical attitude from my standpoint. My mother was a college woman, a student of national and international affairs who took an interest in all public issues. She could not vote. Yet the tenant farmers on our farm, some of whom were illiterate, could vote. On that roll call, confronted with the fact that I was going to go on record for time and eternity on the merits of the question, I had to vote for ratification.”
Source: teachingamericanhistory.org
1. What did Harry Burn’s mother write in her letter?
2. What did Burn hope for that day?
3. What was Burn’s concern about the people he represented?
4. Why did Burn have to vote?
5. How did Burn change U.S. history?
Review Questions:
1. During World War I, many American women helped gain support for the suffrage movementby a. protesting against the war
b. joining the military service c. lobbying for child‐care facilities d. working in wartime industries
2. The Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 is often viewed as the beginning of the a. temperance movement
b. women’s rights movement c. antislavery movement
d. Native American Indian movement
3. What was a major reason most western states granted women suffrage prior to the adoption of the 19th amendment?
a. Western states had more college‐educated women than the eastern states. b. Women outnumbered men in states west of the Mississippi River.
c. A majority of western states had legislatures controlled by women. d. The important roles played by frontier women promoted equality.
4. The Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 was mainly concerned with a. ending slavery in all the states
b. reducing consumption of alcoholic beverages c. improving treatment of the mentally ill d. expanding women’s rights
5. The Women’s Rights Movement of the late 19th century focused its efforts on securing a. Cabinet positions for women
b. The reform of prisons
c. Equal rights for all minorities d. Suffrage for women
6. The abolitionist movement, the women’s suffrage movement, and the 1960’s civil rights movement are all examples of reform efforts that
a. succeeded without causing major controversy b. developed significant popular support
c. achieved their goals without government action d. failed to affect the nation as a whole
7. The main goal of the Seneca Falls Convention (1848) was to a. obtain equal rights for women
b. make the public aware of environmental problems c. correct the abuses of big business
d. organize the first labor union in the United States
8. When Susan B. Anthony refused to pay a fine for voting illegally in the election of 1872, she stated: “Not a penny shall go to this unjust claim.” Her action was an example of
