Women's Suffrage in 19th-Century America: A Full History

Background: Conditions That Sparked the Movement

Although the right of women in the United States to vote for their preferred political candidates was finally guaranteed through a constitutional amendment in 1920, the struggle to secure this right had begun much earlier. In basic terms, women's suffrage refers to the right of women to participate in the election of political leaders of their choice. The various rights women enjoy today have surely come a long way — two or three centuries ago, women did not enjoy these same rights. To understand the women's suffrage movement of the 19th century, it is important to first examine the conditions that laid the groundwork for it, most particularly in the United States.

During the 19th century, women had severely limited career and work options. The role of women at the time was largely confined to housework and other less-prestigious undertakings such as factory work and teaching. As Rhodes, Battin, and Silvers point out, during the 19th century "women had to jump very high hurdles to gain admission to medical schools…" (2012, 283). According to Frost-Knappman and Cullen-DuPont, educators at the time seemed convinced that women could not perform well in scientific and mathematical studies (2009, 3). A case in point is that of Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to hold a U.S. medical degree, who had to apply to a total of 29 medical schools before finally being accepted as a student (Hakim 2002, 128). At the time, bodies such as the American Medical Association also had reservations about admitting women within their ranks.

Property ownership was also not an express right for women. It was during the 19th century that laws allowing women to own property began to be passed in individual states. The laws at the time required women to give up their legal identity as well as their right to own property once they became married (Hakim 2002, 129). Effectively, the interests of the husband in a marriage were disproportionately represented relative to those of the wife. As Frost-Knappman and Cullen-DuPont note, marriage was at the time regarded by lawyers as a kind of "civil death" for the woman (2009, 2), given the many rights women forfeited upon marrying.

Perhaps most importantly, women did not have the right to vote during the 19th century. It was not until the 20th century that women finally won the right to vote through a constitutional amendment. The only exception was New Jersey (Frost-Knappman and Cullen-DuPont 2009, 3). In all other states, the right to vote only became possible through sustained advocacy for suffrage at both the state and national levels.

The birth of the suffrage movement can also be attributed to the changing status and conditions for women in society at the time. It was during this period that women began showing greater involvement in politics by participating in various reform initiatives. With more women receiving higher education, they started to challenge their designated roles in society. Women's suffrage was therefore born out of a larger movement for women's rights broadly conceived.

The Beginning: Early Opposition and Organizing

Although some women had as early as the 1600s demanded the right to vote, an organized movement for that cause only emerged in the 19th century. Throughout their push to secure the right to vote, 19th-century suffragists faced opposition, hostility, and sometimes violence. The resolve of those who were instrumental in establishing this right — to keep marching forward despite formidable challenges — is the clearest indicator of their unwavering determination to enjoy the full features of citizenship, voting included.

One of the arguments commonly used to deny women the right to vote was the claim that voters needed to be independent. All those seen as largely beholden to the views of others were barred from voting, and women were considered beholden to the views of their husbands. There were also those who argued that extending the vote to married women would be wrong, particularly because women in this category generally lacked an independent income (Frost-Knappman and Cullen-DuPont 2009, 3). It was also feared that women's active participation in politics would disrupt their domestic responsibilities, including child-rearing and home-keeping. Some interested parties, notably those in the brewing industry, believed that women's political participation could lead to the enactment of policies unfriendly to their businesses.

Laying the Foundation: Seneca Falls and Beyond

In what could be considered the very first move toward forming an organized front to agitate for women's voting rights, a number of women — including Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott — hosted a meeting in Seneca Falls, New York. Held in 1848, this convention is considered, according to Kazin, Edwards, and Rothman, "the date for the first clearly articulated demand for woman suffrage" (2011, 604). During the convention, participants voted in support of a series of resolutions on women's rights (Buckley 2011, 21). These resolutions were christened the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions and were unanimously approved by the convention's participants (Buckley 2011, 21).

In an attempt to enhance the visibility of women in their drive for rights, the National Women's Rights Convention was organized by Lucy Stone with the help of several other individuals who shared her cause (Danver 2011, 475). For the very first time, all those who had been advancing the cause for women's rights at an individual level were brought together under the banner of a single convention. This first convention was held in 1850, two years after the Seneca Falls meeting (Danver 2011, 475). It should also be noted that Susan B. Anthony — one of the most prominent figures of the suffrage movement — joined the cause after listening to Stone's speech on the convention's closing day. Yearly conventions were held thereafter.

Conclusion

Based on the discussion above, it is clear that the rights women enjoy today have come a long way. This is particularly true with respect to voting rights. Credit should be given to all those brave and passionate men and women who overcame tremendous legal and social barriers to ensure that women were allowed to actively participate in electoral matters. Thanks to their efforts, and to the many men who supported their cause, women can today play their rightful role in shaping the destiny of their nations.

References

Buckley, Susan. 2011. Voting Rights. Pelham, NY: Benchmark Education Company.

Danver, Stephen L., Ed. 2011. Revolts, Protests, Demonstrations, and Rebellions in American History: An Encyclopedia. Volume 1. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, LLC.

Dilke, Mary. 2009. Women's Suffrage. Culver City, CA: Social Studies School Service.

Frost-Knappman, Elizabeth, and Kathryn Cullen-DuPont. 2009. Women's Suffrage in America. Updated Edition. New York, NY: Facts on File, Inc.

Hakim, Joy. 2002. A History of U.S.: Liberty for All? 1820–1860. 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press.

Horowitz, Irving L., Ed. 2009. Culture and Civilization. Volume 1. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers.

Kazin, Michael, Rebecca Edwards, and Adam Rothman, Eds. 2011. The Concise Princeton Encyclopedia of American Political History. New Jersey: Princeton University Press.

Rhodes, Rosamond, Margaret Battin, and Anita Silvers, Eds. 2012. Medicine and Social Justice: Essays on the Distribution of Health Care. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press.

Sabato, Larry J. and Howard R. Ernst. 2009. Encyclopedia of American Political Parties and Elections. New York, NY: Facts on File, Inc.

Schenken, Suzanne O. 1999. From Suffrage to the Senate: An Encyclopedia of American Women in Politics. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, LLC.