The emergence of women in the political sphere heightened during the Civil War. With both the abolitionist and temperance movement gaining political momentum, women in the United States sought to further intensify political activism, shifting the attention onto themselves. The fight for suffrage stemmed from the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 ultimately elevating the women’s rights movement onto a national level. Signed by 68 women and 32 men, the Declaration of Sentiments was presented at the Seneca Falls Convention stating that women deserve the right to equality, which includes the right to vote (“19th Amendment,” 2010). But, however, due to the onslaught of the Civil War, all efforts and politics gravitated towards the war sweeping suffrage under the rug.
Post-Civil War, the focus shifted back onto women’s rights. In 1869, Wyoming became the first state that granted women over the age of 21 the right to vote (Schons, 2011). Several years later, the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) alongside Aaron Sargent introduced and lobbied a constitutional amendment in front of Congress (Crawford, 1999). When it reached the Democratic-controlled Senate floor in 1886, however, it was rejected. While Democrats in Congress themselves were not particularly fond of suffrage, many anti-suffrage groups networked outside of Congress as well. In fact, anti-suffrage groups formed throughout the 19th century and were primarily led by women. Claiming that the right to vote would damage the institution of the family, women sought to contain their influence within the home and regarded politics as a space for men. Many of the women that stood at the forefront of anti-suffrage movements were wealthy, privileged, and also had some sort of political power, as Corinne McConnaughy (2013) states. Given the power that these women already had in the current structure of governance, the fight to grant women the right to vote would potentially erode not only the family, but femininity and their existing positions in power as well (Weeks, 2015).
Even with resistance from many groups, the NWSA continued lobbying across the United States. Shifting their strategy from the national level to lobbying state-by-state, women’s suffrage gained momentum in states such as Colorado, Utah, and Idaho. Between 1910 and 1918, 18 states extended their voting rights to women (“19th Amendment,” 2010). Not only did this start to pressure other states to extend the right but pressure was felt at the national level as well. Originally opposing women’s suffrage during his presidential election in 1913, Woodrow Wilson urged Congress in 1918 to pass a constitutional amendment granting women the right to vote (“19th Amendment,” 2010). With his endorsement, another amendment proposal was passed in Congress, but when it reached the Senate floor, it was rejected yet again.
In 1919, James Mann, the Chairman of Suffrage Committee in the House of Representatives, introduced the Susan B. Anthony Amendment in Congress and urged members of Congress to pass it. Since many women contributed to the war efforts in World War 1, Mann declared that allowing women in the United States to vote would be a choice that furthers democracy in the United States (“Historical Highlights: The 19th Amendment,” para. 1). Even with the opposition from representatives like Benjamin Focht from Pennsylvania, the legislation passed 304-89 with 42 more votes than necessary to be moved to the Senate floor. On June 4th, 1919, the Senate passed the 19th amendment 56-25 and was then moved to the states for ratification. By March of 1920, 35 states approved the amendment with Tennessee being the 36th and final state needed to approve the amendment (“19th Amendment,” 2010). Finally, on August 26th, 1920, the 19th amendment was certified stating that “the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”
While the Constitution does not explicitly state that women are not guaranteed the right to vote, many interpret the 14th amendment- which granted “citizens” the right to vote- as solely applicable to men. Contextually, since white men were the only ones able to participate in politics before the Civil War, the 14th amendment was seen to solely open up voting for African American men rather than “all” citizens, which would include women. Regardless, the 19th amendment paved the way for women throughout the 20th century and onward. Moving away from the cult of domesticity/republican motherhood that isolated women from society, the 19th amendment helped mobilize women to move into the political and social sphere. Because many elected officials also wanted to appeal to new voter groups, the 19th amendment transitively helped stem other social reforms that appealed to women and other minority groups (Williamson, 2013). With women being able to advocate for progressive representatives that emphasized issues such as reproductive rights, women’s health, and even access to education, the 19th amendment reshaped politics and the issues that would be presented in Congress and the United States.
Even today, the 19th amendment is still integral in politics and practices in the United States. At the 2019 State of the Union address, congresswomen wore white to stand in solidarity for the economic security of women and families (Allen, 2019). In this year’s midterm election, more than 100 women are elected officials in the House of Representatives and coincidentally, 2019 also marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment. Without the 19th amendment, many issues as well as women themselves would not be heard in the political sphere. Thanks to individuals such as Susan B. Anthony and James Mann, however, the representation of women in United States politics has dramatically increased for the better.
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