Women's Suffrage Movement: History, Impact, and Achievements

Women's Suffrage Movement: History, Impact, and Achievements

In the United States, women today have more freedom and say, all thanks to the efforts of “Women Suffrage”. The National Woman Suffrage Association was founded by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The organization's main aim was to secure voting rights for women through a constitutional amendment enacted by Congress. Therefore, Women’s Suffrage Movement made it possible for women to vote without discrimination. Without suffrage, women's lives would have been significantly different. Since it provided women the right to vote and more independence, the Women's Suffrage Movement was a key event in American history. 

Women were treated differently back then than they are now. "Americans viewed women to be, by nature, creatures of the house, under the care and authority of men," writes Christine Stansell. Stansell briefly described in her text on  how women were viewed as stay-at-home wives who had no authority over the government or anything else. That is to say, men held control over women's independence and rights in terms of what they could do and say. Women were aware that they were treated unfairly, but they didn't know how to change it. 

Women were slaves to men and their actions depended on their husband. American women played important roles in the struggle; nevertheless, until the late twentieth century, the efforts of most American women to end slavery were largely neglected. Although the majority of  women chose low-wage employment like laundressing and domestic work, some came from middle-class households. Regardless of their occupations or lifestyles, the abolitionist movement meant a lot to them all. Women suffragists faced many obstacles, but they didn't let that stop them from fighting for their rights. 

Prior to the nineteenth century, women were treated unequally, with no justice or freedom in comparison to men's rights in their daily lives. To name a few things, women were not allowed to vote, separate/divorce from their partners equitably, obtain a significant amount of education, display religious convictions, have a well-rounded career, or join the military. All of that began to change in 1848, when the earliest movements for women's equality began. 

Women in America eventually became fed up with way they were treated and decided to take action. This resulted in the "Women's Suffrage Movement," as we know it today. The movement was described by Elizabeth Smiltneek as a "72-year war for women's right to vote in the United States." The reason for the prolonged battle was that, despite the fact that many women were eager to speak for their right to vote, many individuals were opposed to the assertion. "Because it entails rivalry of women with men instead of cooperation," Eleanor Barkhorn said, "and because it is imprudent to jeopardize the good we already have for the ill that may occur." 

It took many years to attain the goal of allowing women to vote. The Nineteenth Amendment was finally enacted by the United States House and Senate in 1919. (Smiltneek). She highlighted in her article how the long-awaited amendment was ratified after years of struggle to get it through the government. The passage of the 19th Amendment was a watershed moment for women in America. Ladies truly demonstrated their ability to fight and make a difference. This amendment may have taken a long time to pass, but it demonstrated women's true strength. 

Conclusively, women were portrayed as weak and uninterested in the administration. However, the women of America were initially unsure of how to modify the statute prohibiting them from voting. They eventually put up a struggle to get what they desired. Many impediments stood in the path of girls attempting to make a difference in America. Despite the fact that many residents predicted that women would not make a difference or be eligible to vote, women proved them incorrect. Without the 19th amendment, the United States would have continued to rely on men to make choices for all of its citizens.