Women's suffrage celebrates centennial anniversary
By Amanda Ross
The 100th anniversary of American women's right to vote brings with it celebration, reflections and an examination of just how far the nation has come. Information gathered from The New York Times archive 1860-1913, officially sanctioned historical websites and Women's Journal and Suffrage News archives from 1913.The movement takes root
While
the true launch of women’s suffrage is often thought of as a
turn-of-the-century movement, the cause has beginnings prior to the Civil War. A council of both men and women dedicated to furthering the
rights of American women met frequently in the late 1840s. The now-legendary
Seneca Falls Convention met in upstate New York in 1848, attended by some
300 patrons including Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Frederick Douglass. Post-Seneca Falls, meetings and rallies
became something of a common occurrence in the country. The New York Times has records of these feminist meetings as early as 1860, many of which
were attended by prominent male figures to underscore the assertions of their
female counterparts. Through the end of the 19th century, the fight for
women’s rights ran parallel with the rights of other marginalized peoples
including ethnic minorities, the illiterate and those living in poverty—then
referred to as paupers.
A New York Times case summary and editorial written in
the immediate aftermath of the Supreme Court’s 1862 Dred Scott decision
discusses the Constitution’s flexibility—or lack thereof—and the groups it
impacts. “In respect to suffrage, the right is granted by the Constitution, and
as this grant changes, the right changes,” the editorial reads, and goes on to
spell out the dichotomy between citizenship and voting rights. During the Civil
War and in the shadow of its immediate aftermath, few major discussions of
suffrage took place. However, in 1869, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B.
Anthony officially formed the National Women Suffrage Association and frequently vocalized their views in the public arena and even
voiced opposition to the Fifteenth Amendment unless it was revised to included
women. Since its founding, the group—which later merged with another women’s
suffrage association—obtained a hearing before Congress every year up until
women’s suffrage was legalized. Because there is so much information leading up
the Nineteenth Amendment available, it is important to be discerning regarding
what should and shouldn’t be included. It is important to highlight how
frequently women’s rights intersecting with Black American rights, as it gives
the reader context on the nation’s mindset and general happenings.
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Suffragettes tout one of their slogans during a 1916 parade
through New York City | Courtesy of the Library of Congress
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Prominent Suffragettes
The
suffrage movement yielded a laundry list of strong, decisive females, but only
a handful would go on to join their long-privileged male counterparts in
America’s history books. Hailed as one of history’s most significant figures,
Susan B. Anthony grew up among a family of activists, which gave her a strong sense
of social justice at an early age, according to the official Susan B.Anthony House Foundation. While fighting for equality, Anthony kept a tome
detailing the struggle for women’s rights, a first-person account of one of the most pivotal
times in history. Though Anthony would die before women’s suffrage was
legalized, the granting Nineteenth Amendment was colloquially referred to as
the Susan B. Anthony Amendment. It was passed in 1920, exactly 100 years after
Anthony’s birth. The New York Times covered the suffrage movement consistently
and thoroughly, including question-and-answer-style stories as well as
traditional longform pieces.
Modern times
Women’s
suffrage celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2013, a landmark in American
history.
But while things may seem equal on the surface, an article exploring
the modern inequalities and micro aggressions faced by American women would
give readers a better scope, and chance to compare our current state, allowing
them to draw their own conclusion on just how far the nation has come. For example, the article could explore the much-discussed pay inequality faced by women, a hot-button issue in our current political climate. For
global context, which is always important in national journalism, an
easy-to-read infographic or callout featuring the year in which other nations
granted women the right to vote would make for an interesting and
thought-provoking bit. It would be interesting for readers to examine how the
United States compared to other nations, and how many nations still do not
allow women’s suffrage in 2014. For a note of levity, the end of the article
could explore how different cities in the United States celebrated the 100th
anniversary. According to news site Examiner.com, several cities across the
nation reenacted the famous 1913 march that reinvigorated the suffrage
movement. Additionally, the original Nineteenth Amendment was on display at the
National Archive to commemorate its passing. The perfecting ending would include this bit of information from the U.S. National Census as of 2012: female voter turnout far surpasses male.
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As hundreds march through New York City in 1916, a sign celebrates
support from President Woodrow Wilson | Courtesy of the
Library of Congress
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