Women's Rights Movement In History

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Women suffrage was an exceptionally difficult battle, but ultimately a great day in history, for not only women but everyone. Over fifty years fighting for it, with great leaders pushing for it, and it being one of the first steps of many for women’s equality, it was finally passed on November 16, 1946. The idea of suffrage started in the early 1840’s. The first women’s rights meeting in the United States of America (US) was held in New York City in 1848 (Johnson). Trying to pass anything related to helping women was an uphill struggle due to the fact representatives in several different states were worried suffrage would spread ( Layser 187). Early attempts to pass suffrage acts in Washington were quickly defeated, with Nebraska and Dakota territories following suit shortly soon after. This just left the Fourteenth Amendment declaring …show more content…

Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were the founders of the National Woman Suffrage Association. Susan B. Anthony also wrote the federal woman suffrage amendment and introduced it to Congress in 1878. Alice Paul was also an extraordinary advocate. Paul founded the Women’s Party. She was known for using more radical tactics such as picketing the White House, forming highly attended marches, she even was arrested and sentenced to jail time. In jail she and several other women went on hunger strikes just so they could be heard by the people about their cause. Woodrow Wilson was dismayed when he found out the jailed suffragists were being force fed and he finally stepped in to defend the cause. Wilson spoke out stating “We have made partners of the women in this war…Shall we admit them only to a partnership of privilege and right.” (“This Day In History” History.com staff) Although he made a valid case it still was not enough to stir up votes to pass anything and it would be another year until women would get voting