In the twentieth century, the United States saw an intense change in the lives of women. This change involved an increase number of women joining the workforce. This led to a progressive social reform movement. The result of that movement was gaining the sufficient amount of support to gain the vote for women. In 1916, Alice Paul and Lucy Burns formed the Women’s National Party. The forms of advocacy that this party took included public marches, protesting in front of the White House and civil disobedience. With these political and social outbreaks, the members of this party were attacked, arrested and imprisoned. Although this party and supporters of the amendment were faced with obstacles, support continuously grew.
The 19th Amendment was a crucial step towards achieving women's political empowerment and paved the way for future generations of women to participate in the democratic process. The passing of the 19th Amendment was a progressive milestone in American history, as it expanded democracy and paved the way for greater gender equality. Although the previous election was largely dominated by men, as women become more educated and involved in the workforce, it is challenging long-held gender roles and stereotypes. The ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920 was a major milestone in the fight for gender equality, breaking free from the usual stereotype that women were incapable of making decisions (19th Amendment - Definition, Passage & Summary, 2022). The suffragists' activism also brought attention to other social and political issues affecting women, leading to further advocacy and reform efforts.
The Roaring Twenties was a prime era for women. Because of the toils of many strong women, ideals were flipped on their head, to America’s benefit. In the late 1800’s, two women, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, quickly realized that women would not be able to share their political views unless given the right to vote. Because of the fact that women had basically no other societal roles besides housework, they were not respected during this time period.
Alice joins the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). February 1913 Alice and Lucy Burns helped found the Congressional Union for Women’s Suffrage but after not getting enough help from NAWSA financially and having different ideals as well, they decide to leave the organization. March 3, 1913 Alice organizes a suffragist parade the day before President Wilson’s inauguration.
Alice Paul started an organization called the National Woman's Party and Lucy hopped right on the bandwagon. The NWP had one goal and that goal was to create an amendment demanding women’s suffrage. When the senate failed to pass the amendment, they decided to take another route in pushing for the amendment. They decided that come election day, they would help elect someone who was pro-women’s suffrage. When President Wilson heard about this, he became threatened and called for a Congress meeting.
American women were excluded from participating in the political process but they still improved their status by using motherhood to their advantage by raising educated male children to become future voters, legislators, and doctors. American women became very active in the reform movement by helping to build
Alice Paul was at one point a member of the National American Woman’s Suffrage Association but when fellow members saw her actions to be a bit too radical she left the group and started her own which became known as the National Woman’s Party (Staff). This party organized petitions and protests including a Seven-month
Lucy Burns was a suffragette and women's rights advocate who was tremendously important to the history of women rights in America. In her lifetime women and men were not treated equal, women often stayed at home and did not have much say in their lives. Inspired by her father, Ms. Burns joined the Women's Social and Political Union and worked on its behalf for justice. However, Alice Paul and Lucy Burns disagreed with the Women's Social and Political Union, and together with Alice Paul, Burns created the National Women’s Party in order to take more actions. Her work ultimately led to the passage of the 19th Amendment which gave women the right to vote.
In a time where suffering took place to gain suffrage, women were willing to make any sacrifice necessary to achieve equality. In America during the 20th century, tensions were high between many societal groups and classes. During that time, justice and equality were familiar yet misunderstood concepts to many Americans, and change was forthcoming. Societal change is the shift from night to day, and from day back to night; unavoidable and frequent. One such unavoidable change was the suffrage for all genders, races, religions, and free peoples in the United States of America.
Women began founding their own political organizations such as the National American
During Progressive Era, there were many reforms that occurred, such as Child Labor Reform or Pure Food and Drug Act. Women Suffrage Movement was the last remarkable reform. This movement was fighting about the right of women to vote, which was basically about women’s right movement. Many great leaders – Elizabeth Cad Stanton and Susan B. Anthony - formed the National American Women Suffrage Association (NAWSA). Although those influential leaders faced hardship during this movement, they never gave up and kept trying their best.
According to "American-Historama.org", "The 'New Women' of the 1920s had been given the right to vote.... could attend college, get a job or career..... clamoring to learn how to drive" This shows how the introduction of the "New Women" were influential because before the 1920s, women were housewives and had little education. However, on August 18, 1920, women were finally given the right to vote. This means that their issues such as alcohol, child labor would now be addressed. In addition, many of the "New Women" fought for equal education and job opportunities. Although women did not get exactly what they want, they would lead the way for many other women of different eras to help get equal opportunities for both genders.
Alice wanted a national amendment whereas the NAWSA wanted to focus on state campaigns. The NAWSA supported President Wilson but Alice blamed him for the continued disenfranchisement of women. So in 1914 she formed the National Woman’s Party (NWP) and cut all ties with the NAWSA. “The NWP organized “Silent Sentinels” to stand outside the White House holding banners inscribed with incendiary phrases directed toward President Wilson” (Carol, Myers, Lindman, n.d., National Woman 's Party, Picketing and Prison, para 1). They continued their picketing through World War 1 and many thought of them as unpatriotic.
After the Civil War, women were willing to gain the same rights and opportunities as men. The war gave women the chance to be independent, to live for themselves. Women’s anger, passion, and voice to protest about what they were feeling was the reason of making the ratification of the 19th amendment, which consisted of giving women the right to vote. One of the largest advancement of that era was the women’s movement for the suffrage, which gave them the reason to start earning
In the 1920s women succeeded well but not without some struggles. Along the way with 19th amendment being so hard for them gaining the right to vote, women’s roles seeing that there not good enough for other than housework and the fashion or style movement with being able not to express yourself the way you should. The 19th Amendment better known as the women’s suffrage era 1920 of the united states
Susan B. Anthony FCS 2831 Biography of a Woman Allyson Pierce March 1, 2016 The Life of a Woman Imagine what the lives of women would be like if our world never evolved. Women would be staying home, not being able to seek what a professional job is, not being able to own property and much more. This would be truly discouraging, wouldn’t it? If this were the case for our society today, there would be a lot of uproar.