The History Fact

American Suffrage Movement

During the 1820’s and 1830’s, most American men were able to vote or hold public office. The property requirement for men had been lifted, and many men availed themselves of the voting opportunities. With the expansion of education which allowed more accessibility for women, they too soon sought the right to vote. A suffrage movement grew in the 1850’s just before the Civil War. Most females involved in the early years were abolitionists, as well. Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were leaders at the forefront of the movement.

The abolitionists asked the female members to take a step back and work for the abolition of slavery before seeking the vote for women. They agreed thinking suffrage would be won after the war or when slavery ended. It would be nearly 60 years before suffrage legislation for women was enacted. Many of the original members of the movement were gone by 1920 when the 19^th amendment was passed. Carrie Chapman Catt was the leader of the second generation of suffragettes responsible for the final push of the passage of the law following WWI.

The sites listed below give more detailed information about women’s suffrage.

 

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_suffrage_in_the_United States
www.history.com/topics/womens-history/the-fight-for-womens-suffrage
www.suffragist.com/timeline.htm
www.teacher.scholastic.com/activities/suffrage/history.htm