How do historians make sense of the women’s rights movement? As a series of WAVES: 1 st wave: 1848 – 1920suffrage and basic civil rights “between the waves” 1920 – 1960s nothing happening? No… birth control, working conditions, lifting legal restrictions, public/private roles 2 nd wave: 1960s – 1970s “women’s liberation” feminism, women in progressive movements, abortion, marriage, equal rights across the board (ERA), etc. 1990s – present: a 3 rd wave?

1840 “a fateful meeting” London World Anti-slavery Society Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott: “We must do something about this!”

1848 Seneca Falls Now’s the time to have that convention to discuss “women’s conditions.” Stanton writes the Declaration of Sentiments – Based on the Declaration of Independence – 18 grievances and 12 resolutions – The audacity of suffrage Frederick Douglas’s essential support

1848 – 1861 Early activism Conventions Resolutions Publicity through newspaper coverage, debates, speeches, etc. Lobbying state legislatures  some progress: – Property rights for women – Access to higher education

Stanton and Anthony 1851 Eliz. C. Stanton and Susan B. Anthony meet at an abolitionist meeting in NY a great match: warmth and passion (ECS) analytical rigor and vision (SBA) they will collaborate for decades, but neither one will live to vote legally

1861 – 1865 Civil war Why suspend the campaign for women’s rights? What roles did women play? What did they hope would happen as a result?

1865 – 1870 Hopes and disappointment 13 th amendment 14 th amendment 15 th amendment

“’Tis the Negro’s Hour” Why would the rights of African-American men seem “more urgent?” -Who ultimately could decide who got the right to vote?

Is it a crime for a citizen to vote? 1872Susan B. Anthony – presidential election in Rochester, NY Virginia Minor – Missouri 1875Supreme Court, Minor v. Happersett - 14 th Amendment doesn’t create new rights - Constitution does not say that ALL citizens can vote - STATES have the power to decide who can vote (under federalism)

What options did that leave for advocates of women’s suffrage?

How to change the laws? State by state? Constitutional amendment? – 2/3 of both houses in Congress – ¾ of states

Disagreement and division among activists and organizations AWSA vs. NWSA - support or oppose the 15 th amendment? - allow male officers or not? - seek state by state changes or a constitutional amendment?

Movement reunited: NWSA + AWSA = NAWSA 1890 NAWSA created by 1896, women could vote in only 4 states: Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Idaho 1890 – 1910“the doldrums” 1902 Eliz. Cady Stanton dies 1906 Susan B. Anthony dies

NAWSA’s new leadership -Harriet Stanton Blatch (ECS’s daughter, b. 1856) -Anna Howard Shaw (b. 1847) -Carrie Chapman Catt (b. 1859) by 1912, a couple more states have granted women the right to vote they favor taking a state by state approach and not antagonizing Congress or the President

1912 a new generation -Lucy Burns (b. 1879) -Alice Paul (b. 1885) -Both had spent time in England, where they learned more radical/militant techniques, such as parades, civil disobedience and strikes. - They favor seeking a constitutional amendment. NAWSA’s “Congressional Committee” – March 1913: organize a big parade to coincide with Pres. Woodrow Wilson’s inauguration in Washington D.C. Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage (April 1913) Feb – ejected from NAWSA 1916 National Woman’s Party is formed, with focus on const. amdmt

CU/NWP and new tactics Parades and rallies Resistance to mobs of angry men and indifference of police Writing to newspapers Lobbying Congress and the President Recruiting women connected to powerful men Pressured candidates for office during campaigns

New tactics Picketing political conventions Picketing the White House, esp. after U.S. entered World War I (April 1917): How can the U.S. claim to support democracy abroad while denying half of its own citizens the right to vote? Arrested for “obstructing traffic,” jailed at Occoquan Workhouse Hunger strikes (when denied status as political prisoners)

NWP’s activities 1916 – 1918 were fundamental to changing views Gained public sympathy Pointed out hypocrisy of national policy Put pressure on Pres. Woodrow Wilson to support the push for a constitutional amdmt Wilson did so publically in 1918 by asking Congress to take the proposed amendment seriously

Constitutional amendment 19 Passed with 2/3 support in both houses of Congress in June 1919 Went to the states for ratification (needed 36 states to approve it) August 18, 1920 Tennessee state legislature ratified it and it became official November 1920 Many women voted for first time in their lives