Blog #25 - Women's Rights - The 1920s

In 1920, America finally approved women's right to vote with the passage of the 19th Amendment. Now, women aged 21 and over could vote in all elections.

The movement began in 1848 at Seneca Falls, NY where women gathered to make a list of grievances "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" (1).

In 1869, famous female leaders Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton launched the National Women's Suffrage Assoiciation (NWSA) right around the time that Wyoming granted women suffrage. In addition, Colorado is the first state to adopt an amendment granting women the right to vote (in 1893). Utah and Idaho follow suit in 1896, Washington State in 1910, California in 1911, Oregon, Kansas, and Arizona in 1912, Alaska and Illinois in 1913, Montana and Nevada in 1914, New York in 1917; Michigan, South Dakota, and Oklahoma in 1918 (2). Black women also formed a group called the National Association of Colored Women (NACW) who also had the same goals as the NWSA - universal suffrage.

The National Women's Party, led by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, began a strong push for the passage of the Anthony Amendment. That push includes protesting in front of the White House and other acts of civil disobedience. check out the trailer for HBO's Iron Jawed Angels:



That's Hilary Swank (2 time Oscar winner) playing Alice Paul. Paul and Burns decided to take their pursuit of suffrage to a whole new level which scandalized old-fashioned suffragists like Carrie Chapman Catt, but in the end, proved more effective than not. For instance, Paul and Burns organized a march for President Wilson's inauguration in 1913 (and violence broke out afterwards).
Lawyer Inez Milholland riding a horse in the 1913 parade (looking like Joan of Arc).

Here's a YouTube link to part 1 of IJA. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5ePfUW-60

Part 2 of IJA - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT76UtxpOoA (Ida Wells appears in this segment pushing for black women to march together w/ white women).

Part 3 of IJA - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1ZK1v9O1DI (the 1913 march and violence are at the end).

Part 4 of IJA - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYYqtq_uRlM&feature=related (reaction to the violence as the DC police turn away - Wilson declines to push for suffrage).

Part 5 of IJA - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T68z-EpoXg (see the split of the more conservative NAWSA and the more radical Congressional Union / National Women's Party).

Some of the reasons why men didn't women to vote (tongue in cheek):

Why We Don't Want Men to Vote (by writer Alice Miller, 1915):

- Because man's place is in the army.
- Because no really manly man wants to settle any question otherwise than by fighting about it.
- Because if men should adopt peaceable methods women will no
longer look up to them.
- Because men will lose their charm if they step out of their natural sphere and interest themselves in other matters than feats of arms, uniforms, and drums.
- Because men are too emotional to vote. Their conduct at baseball games and political conventions shows this, while their innate tendency to appeal to force renders them unfit for government (3).

Finally, after showing that women have earned the right to vote by working in the factories during the Great War, President Wilson finally pushed for the amendment's support. It probably didn't hurt that the NWP asked voting women not to support Wilson in the 1916 election. The House passed it overwhelmingly, but it took the Senate another couple months to finally agree to the amendment.

"Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan were the first states to pass the law; Georgia
and Alabama rushed to pass rejections. The anti-suffrage forces, which included
both men and women, were well-organized, and passage of the amendment was not easy.
When thirty-five of the necessary thirty-six states had ratified the amendment, the
battle came to Nashville, Tennessee. Anti-suffrage and pro-suffrage forces from
around the nation descended on the town. And on August 18, 1920, the final vote
was scheduled.
One young legislator, 24 year old Harry Burn, had voted with the anti-suffrage forces to that time. But his mother had urged that he vote for the amendment and for suffrage. When he saw that the vote was very close, and with his anti-suffrage vote would be tied 48 to 48, he decided to vote as his mother had urged him: for the right of women to vote. And so on August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th and deciding state to ratify" (3).

With all of this info, please answer the following questions:

1. Why do you think the women of the NWP like Lucy Burns and Alice Paul had to resort to more radical methods to highlight their case for women's suffrage?

2. Can you think of current or recent incidents / marches / protests where protestors had used more radical tactics to gain attention to their cause? Which ones? What did they do?

Due Friday, November 6. 150 words minimum.

Sources:
1. http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0875901.html The Declaration of Sentiments, Seneca Falls, NY, 1848.
2. http://www.infoplease.com/spot/womenstimeline1.html Women's Rights Timeline.
3. http://womenshistory.about.com/od/suffrage1900/a/august_26_wed.htm Women's History

Blog #18 - D.I.Y. Blog - Git 'Er Done!

(Before we begin, I must say that I have been highly impressed with the quality of the thinking and the depth of analysis that has gone into the questions. I am especially impressed by the students who I am working w/ for the first time this semester - wrapping your head around these blog questions can be a little tricky sometimes. Well done, and keep up the good work!)

During this Civil Rights and Women's Rights movements unit, we've seen a lot of injustice and been witness to tremendous acts of courage and bravery. I think that there are still many questions left unanswered, so I decided to let you guys ask the questions for a change.

1. Do you think that affirmative action is good or bad for America? - Tyler F., Phil,

2. If Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were competing for different political parties instead of the same party, who do you think would win the national election for the presidency? Why? - Alyssa T.

3. If you were Fannie Lou Hamer, would you feel that registering to vote was worth all the hassle after? - Derek M., Raekeshia,

4. What if Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King were alive today?

• How would they react to today's tragedies like Hurricane Katrina?



• How would the world be different today if they were alive? - Jake C.



• Which one's tactics/philosophy would you join today? - Kelsey

5. Do you think the things that Senator Obama said in his speech about distractions from the real problems that face America is true or not? Why? - John C.

6. Why do you think someone so unimportant to politics like Bill Russell (or other sports figures in today's world) can have such a big social/cultural impact on America? - Matt Bergin

7. How could the response to Hurricane Katrina have been improved? - Jourdan, Jessica, Jason S., Paul, Carleigh, Ian,

8. Do you think we would be closer to energy independence and newer forms of alternative fuel if if Al Gore had won the election in 2000 instead of George W. Bush? - Tyler H.

9. Which do you think had a bigger impact on the country and why: the Civil Rights or the women's rights movement? - Rob S., Robbie L.,

10.If you were a leader of the Civil Rights Movement back then, would you be a leader more like Dr. King or more like Malcolm X with regard to philosophy and tactics (non-violence vs. by self-defense / convert the opponent vs. black power and nationalism)? Or would you be something completely different? Why? - Stefan, Stefanos, Amber

11. Why is it taking so long to rebuild and repair New Orleans? - Nick

12. How would life be different for women if the E.R.A. amendment had been passed? - Matt Bajorek, Raffi

13. Why did the Bush administration take so long to get down to New Orleans after Katrina? - Ashley D., Alex D., Bethany, Raffi, Ian, Raekeshia, Stefanos,

14. Has women's advancement during the past 40-50 years hurt or helped men? Why? - Nikita

15. Women have always had difficulty with gaining equality and respect from men. So, why would some women dress scantily and only care about their looks to attract men? If women truly wanted to be better, why act dumb and do nothing? - Emma

16. Why do you think women in the 1950s were so dissatisfied with living "the ideal life" as a housewife? - Mollie, Tommy

17. In your opinion, would the appearance of the current female image of "beauty" have changed if pop culture sensation Twiggy not been discovered? Why or why not? - Angelina, Gina

18. Will discrimination ever be over in the future? - Audrey

19. Even though V.P. Al Gore had won the popular vote in the 2000 election, he lost the electoral vote to Governor George Bush. Do you agree that the current voting system we have is o.k. (with the electoral college) or should it be reformed to something else? - Paul

20. Was the non-violent protest method the best way to fight Jim Crow and establish Civil Rights? Why or why not? - Bethany, Sarah, Raffi, Ryan, Marin, Christy, - (It may be easy to judge this in retrospect since it worked, but would a self-defense strategy have worked faster or provoked a more violent reaction from a very racist, resistant South? - the editor)

21. Pretend you didn't know the outcome of the Children's March: would you have taken a stand with the other kids of Birmingham, AL in May of 1963? Why or why not? - Lydia, Angelina, Bethany, Sarah, Kelsey, Ally R., Amber

22. If you were 18 this year, who would you have voted for in each of the primaries and why? - Robert G.

23. If you had lived in New Orleans or in the Gulf Coast region in late August 2005 and Hurricane Katrina was bearing down on the area (pretending you don't know the aftermath, of course), would you have evacuated or stuck it out? Why? Why do you think so many people who could leave stayed? - Sarah

24. Who do you think was the most influential woman in the women's movement? Why? (here's a link to help you with your decision - http://www.legacy98.org/move-hist.html )- Ben, Ally R.

25. Were there parts of Senator Obama's speech of March 2008 that you agreed / disagreed with? Why? - many people asked this question in several different ways.

26. The children of Birmingham, AL marched for freedom. Despite being jailed, their attempts eventually worked, and things became integrated in the South. Many people think that kids can't change history even though here is at least one example that proves them wrong. What would students / teenagers today march for and feel strongly enough to fight for (and maybe even be willing to go to jail in protest)? - Katie B.

27. Do you think you would have urged your state representative to vote for the E.R.A. Amendment back in the 1970s or would you have worked w/ Phyllis Schlafly to defeat the amendment? Why? - Christy

28. How can you try someone for a crime in 2005 that he/she might have committed in 1964 like with the Mississippi Burning case? - Emily C.

29. Why did it take so long for President Kennedy to react to the racism going on in his own country back in the early 1960s? - Lorne

30. How do you think sexual independence has changed women's roles in society today? (Others have asked similar questions about the Pill or Helen Gurley Brown's book, Sex and the Single Girl) - Claire, Tommy

31. What do you think the "proper shape" is for men and women today? - Ryan B.

Pick any one of these questions and answer it fully. You may NOT pick your own blog. Minimum word reply is 200 words.

Due Monday, April 14th, 2008.

Blog #17 - Why do you think women have had such a hard time?

Throughout the course of American history, in the land of the free, where "all men are created equal", women have had such a difficult time achieving and maintaining equality. From the time Abagail Adams reminded her husband, John Adams, to include something about women's rights in the Declaration of Independence to Hillary Clinton's Presidential campaign, women have had an uphill road to walk for equality.

Question: Why do you think their (women's) road has been so tough in their fight for equality?

Things to consider: Everyone in America a woman (1/2 the population given the 2000 census) or has been touched by, involved with women in some way or another; with such a close relationship, how can men NOT be influenced to accept women as equals? Is there something built-in to our culture - an anti-woman bias - that keeps women down or degrades them?

Why do you think Hillary Clinton is not succeeding as well as Barack Obama, especially considering that BOTH of them are historical, groundbreaking candidates? Is she losing b/c she's a woman or is she losing b/c of her policies and personality? Lastly, why do groups like Phyllis Schlafly's sabotage women's fight for rights?

200 words minimum.

Due Wednesday, April 9th - Please note new due date. Sorry this was posted so late - have had a busy weekend so far.

The Millie Quiz

In case you're having computer issues or can't find the quiz, here's a copy of the Thoroughly Modern Millie quiz especially prepared for you:

THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE Extra Credit Questionnaire
(Questions hand-selected by: Dayna Campbell , Meghan Concannon, and Mrs. Petrino)
1. What year does the show take place in? (Hint: it’s in the opening song)
2. What is one of the "mysteries of the orient?"
3. What happens to the orphans at the Hotel Pricilla and where do they go?
4. What did Mr. Graydon win his trophy for? What does Millie think he won it for?
5. What is Millie’s profession?
6. What is the song "Gimme Gimme" about?
7. What is the name of the Chinese man who is in love with Miss Dorthy?
8. What kind of woman does Mille want to be? How is this related to the decade in which the show is set?
9. Who pretends to be the new orphan in town?
10. Name one famous historical figure that is referenced in the show (Think about Muzzy’s party).

Have fun at the play. Hope to see you there.

Have women achieved enough?

Women have been fighting for equality for many years. Now that most of the fighting is over has feminism achieved its goal for equility or is there still aways to go?

Eric J.

We just read an article about women's rights. Why would there be women against women's rights (like Phyllis Schlafly)?
If you were a woman, wouldn't you want to have the same rights as the men, or at least not oppose people who do want those rights?
Are there still women who think that women should not be as equal as men? What are they doing to prevent women's rights today?

Jon K.