Yesterday, August 18, was the 92nd anniversary of the 19th Amendment, the Woman Suffrage amendment.
The thought that it took two thirds of a century (72 years to be precise) to give women the right to vote is astounding in today’s world, but the fight began with the Equal Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848, and was a struggle highlighted by the activism of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, as well as Alice Paul and others. It finally came to fruition when Tennessee became the 36th state out of 48 to ratify in 1920.
Women had little influence on politics in the early years, but now women play a major role, although their representation comes nowhere near their percentage of the population (about 50.8 percent).
Women have been voting a majority Democratic for a long time, and women again could have a major role in the election, with a majority seeing the Republican Party as attacking women’s rights at work, their safety from abusive men, and control of their reproductive lives.
Many women are running for public office, and this might lead to an increase in Congress, and already, women have proved they can serve on the Supreme Court, in high cabinet positions, and have distinguished careers in Congress and the state legislatures and Governorships.
This anniversary is a moment to celebrate, and to remember the long struggle for the basic right everyone should have in a democracy without question, the right to vote!
Hello Professor,
What a timely subject for today. As I have become quite alarmed at those within my own Party passing repressive laws restricting the civil rights of women at the State levels. It would also appear it is being driven under the religious guises.
Yes there are some that would have is return to the “Good O’l Days†but like Moms Mabley stated, “You know Moms is old…..I remember the “Good O’l Daysâ€â€¦â€¦.
They Weren’t That Good!!â€
HAHA! I love your humor!
Hello Professor,
I have written and posted a piece expanding on this subject on my site referencing your original posting and giving you credit.
Thanks so much for the reference, and I hope my readers will look at :ENGINEEROFKNOWLEDGE.WORDPRESS.COM
The proposed amendment called the “Anthony Bill” was first introduced in the Senate in 1878 by
liberal (as in classic liberal) Republican Senator Aaron Augustus Sargent. Speaker of the House liberal (classic) Republican Frederick H. Gillett signed the bill in 1919. And of course then as always the majority of the then progressive (they didn’t use the term liberal back then because the term was understood in the classical sense not as the modern day definition of liberal/progressive) Democrat party, the party that elected their great progressive President Woodrow Wilson, voted againts it.
The Southern Democrats DID vote against, and Wilson was opposed, YES, but then the Democratic Party developed its northern wing over time, and the few Northerners in the party in the Northeast DID support woman suffrage, such as Al Smith and Robert F. Wagner, Sr., influenced by Eleanor Roosevelt and other women in the developing urban wing of the Democrats!
The western progressive Republicans, which I wrote about in my published book, were more advanced at the time, yes, but later, those areas became right wing after World War II.
As usual, the “heartland”, whether Republican or Democratic, votes the status quo, remaining backward socially, due to the power of organized Christianity of the fundamentalist variety, then of women and blacks, and now gays!
Nothing new under the sun!
Despite his shortcomings on race and women, Woodrow Wilson’s administration promoted great progressive reforms, based partly on TR’s New Nationalism, but also Wilson’s New Freedom, and therefore, Wilson is seen as a great reform President, with faults that are major, of course. But while attacking Wilson, we must remember his virtues too!
Did you read Wilson’s book, The State?
I just have to post this , sorry, but isn’t this just another example of political correctnes racial diversity taken to the extreme? Or am I missing something here? http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/symphony-says-cobb-high-school-choruses-are-not-di/nRDFf/
I have no problem with Wilson, except on race and gender, which I admit are major shortcomings! Is this a Glenn Beck assault on Wilson occurring?
Let me amend that to include civil liberties violations during and after World War I, but still Wilson is in the top ten in his influence, overall!
Good grief! Why do you always mention this guy Glenn Beck? Is he that important? I have to look him up since you seem so obsessed with him. You remnd me of Obama always mentioning Bush. People do read books you know.
I tend to agree with you on this one! WOW, we actually agree on something! LOL
I am amazed you do not know who Glenn Beck is!
I may have heard his name before, but never once saw or heard him speak. Nor do I know what he thinks, but by what you say he seems conservative. As I told you I sometimes watch, as a hobby and for laughs MSNBC, and as a matter of fact I actually saw when Toure accuse Romney of ‘niggerization.” By the way I believe this young lady addressed his disgusting remarks quite appropriately: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc1xrKLlOwo&feature=player_embedded Maybe you don’t agree on this one….
Actually, I do NOT agree with Toure, and think he is quite obnoxious most of the time. The term “nigger” should NOT be used!