1. WOMEN’S RIGHTS MOVEMENT
Historical Background of the Women’s Rights Movement in the United States

2. Why were women fighting for their rights?
What was life like for women in the 1800’s?
What rights did they have?
How were they treated differently than men?
What were the expectations of women?

3. Women were treated like second-class citizens

4. Women were looked down upon
Socially
Economically
Politically

5. Socially
Women were viewed as less superior to white males. Therefore, they were denied many rights.

6. Marriage After women got married… They did not have the right to own
property.
They could not keep their wages($).
They could not sign a contract.

7. Stay Home! People believed that a woman’s role was to: Cook Clean
Take care of the family

8. Education Women were not encouraged to get formal education
There was very little educational opportunity for women

9. Economically
Women were NOT encouraged to pursue a professional career.
Women were discriminated against and given very few options for jobs
Their salaries were very low.

10. Politically
Women could not vote
Women could not hold a public office.

11. Debate Questions Do you believe men are superior to women?
Do you believe it is the woman’s role to cook, clean and take care of the family?
Should women have the same opportunities for education as men?
Should women have the same opportunities for employment (jobs)?
Should women and men be paid equally?
Should a woman hold a public office?

12. Elizabeth Cady Stanton 1815-1902

13. Elizabeth Cady Stanton
American suffragist
Social activist
Abolitionist
Leader in the early women’s right’s movement

14. Seneca Falls Convention
In 1848, Stanton spoke at the convention in Seneca Falls, NY
She is credited with initiating the first women’s right and women’s suffrage movement in the United States

15. “An Address by Elizabeth Cady Stanton”
She addressed concerns beyond voting rights
Her concerns included women's parental and custody rights, property rights, employment and income rights

16. Woman Suffrage Movement
The movement lasted more than 70 years!
It involved 3 generations of women.
Millions of women participated in the movement.

17. Activists
Suffrage activists spent more than 50 years educating the public.
Suffragists participated in dramatic, non-violent, militant action to win their right to vote.

18. Women's suffragists parade in New York City in 1917, carrying placards with signatures of more than a million women

19. 19th Amendment
In 1920, women were granted the right to vote