The Fight to Vote

Women suffragists changed the United States

By Nellie Gonzalez Cutler

"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." With those words,
the Declaration of Independence set forth the idea of equality. But the women at the Woman's
Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848, felt that a key phrase was missing.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott and others rewrote the Declaration. "All men and women
are created equal," they insisted. They resolved that it was "the duty of the women of this country"
to fight for suffrage, or the right to vote.
Seneca Falls was the beginning of a long road to suffrage. Those who wanted to expand
voting rights to all Americans were called suffragists. Suffragists demonstrated, gave talks and
traveled the country. In 1872, Susan B. Anthony voted in Rochester, New York. She was arrested
and convicted of breaking the law. "My natural rights, my civil rights, my political rights, my judicial
rights, are all alike ignored," she said at her trial.
Six years later, Senator A.A. Sargeant, of California, introduced an amendment to the
Constitution to ensure that women could vote. But it took another 42 years before all women in
the U.S. were guaranteed the right to vote. On November 2, 1920, 8 million American women
voted in a presidential election for the first time. The women who blazed the trail did not live to
see that historic day. In her last speech, one month before she died, in 1906, Anthony urged
women to continue to fight for the vote. "Failure," she told her audience, "is impossible."

One Step at a Time

Women worked hard to get the vote. Here are some of the main events.
1848 The Woman's Rights Convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York. Elizabeth Cady
Stanton wrote the Declaration of Sentiments.
1869 Stanton and Susan B. Anthony formed the National Woman Suffrage Association
(NWSA). Only women could join. Lucy Stone formed the American Woman Suffrage
Association (AWSA). It was open to men and women.
1872 Anthony and supporters voted in the presidential election. They were arrested.
1878 A woman suffrage amendment was first introduced in the U.S. Congress.
1890 The NWSA and AWSA merged to form the National American Woman Suffrage
Association.
1912-14 Women held rallies in New York City and Washington, D.C.
1917 Police arrested women who were picketing outside the White House. By 1918, about half
the states had granted full or partial voting rights to women.
1919 Congress passed the 19th Amendment, called the Susan B. Anthony Amendment. It was
ratified, or confirmed, one year later.

READING QUESTIONS

I. Match the definition on the left column with the word on the right column.
1. To put someone in custody for breaking the law. A. Amendment
2. To declare someone to be guilty of a criminal offense. B. Election
3. The state of being equal, especially in status, right and opportunity. C. Suffrage
4. A change or an addition made to a legal document. D. Vote
5. A choice made by counting people in favor of two or more E. Arrest
candidates.
6. A vote to decide who will hold a political office. F. Failure
7. The right to vote in public elections. G. Equality
8. Lack of success. H. Convict

II. Decide whether these statements are true (T) or false (F). Correct the false one.
1. The Woman’s Right Convention was held in Rochester, New York. T F
2. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott and Susan B. Anthony were T F
suffragists.
3. Only women could join the American Woman Suffrage Association. T F
4. Senator A. A Sargeant, who supported the women’s right to vote, was T F
from Colorado.
5. The women who began the long road to suffrage were among the 8 million T F
women who legally voted for a presidential election.
6. The 19th Amendment passed by Congress was called the Susan B. Anthony T F
Amendment.

III. Fill in the blank with the correct years.

1. Elizabeth Cady Stanton wrote the Declaration of Sentiments in __________.
2. In _________ Susan B. Anthony and her supporters were arrested for voting illegally.
3. The U.S Congress introduced a woman suffrage amendment in _________.
4. In _________ women who protested outside the White House were arrested by the police.
5. Finally, in ________ women were able to vote in a U.S Presidential election for the first time.

IV. Reading discussion (Group Work)

1. Why do you think women were not allowed to vote before early 20th century in the U.S?
2. Does gender matter in deciding who is eligible to be a leader? Why/why not?
3. What do you think still need to be improved to encourage women’s participation in the
government?
4. Do you think women in Indonesia still face issues with inequality? If yes, in what aspects
and what do you think we need to do to eliminate the inequality?