Susan B Anthony - Women's Right to Vote

Susan B Anthony on women's right to vote - 1872

Answer the following questions about Susan B Anthony and her protest speech​

​Friends and fellow citizens: I stand before you tonight under indictment (accusation) for the alleged (supposed) crime of having voted at the last presidential election, without having a lawful right to vote. It shall be my work this evening to prove to you that in thus voting, I not only committed no crime, but, instead, simply exercised my citizen’s rights, guaranteed to me and all United States citizens by the National Constitution, beyond the power of any state to deny. The preamble (Intro.) of the Federal Constitution says: “We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity (children), do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union. And we formed it, not to give the blessings of liberty, but to secure them; not to the half of ourselves and the half of our posterity, but to the whole people—women as well as men. And it is a downright mockery to talk to women of their enjoyment of the blessings of liberty while they are denied the use of the only means of securing them provided by this democratic-republican government—the ballot.

​Susan B Anthony Speech part 1 - 1872

​For any state to make sex a qualification that must ever result in the disfranchisement (denial) of one entire half of the people, is to pass a bill of attainder (punishment without trial), or, an ex post facto law (illegal after), and is therefore a violation of the supreme law of the land. By it the blessings of liberty are forever withheld from women and their female posterity. To them this government has no just powers derived from the consent of the governed. To them this government is not a democracy. It is not a republic. It is an odious (terrible) aristocracy (upper class); a hateful oligarchy (rule by few) of sex; the most hateful aristocracy ever established on the face of the globe; an oligarchy of wealth, where the rich govern the poor. An oligarchy of learning, where the educated govern the ignorant, or even an oligarchy of race, where the Saxon (white European) rules the African, might be endured; but this oligarchy of sex, which makes father, brothers, husband, sons, the oligarchs over the mother and sisters, the wife and daughters, of every household—which ordains (declare) all men sovereigns, all women subjects, carries dissension (disagreement), discord, and rebellion into every home of the nation....The only question left to be settled now is: Are women persons? And I hardly believe any of our opponents will have the hardihood (strength) to say they are not. Being persons, then, women are citizens; and no state has a right to make any law, or to enforce any old law, that shall abridge their privileges or immunities (protection). Hence, every discrimination against women in the constitutions and laws of the several states is today null and void (no legal power), precisely as is every one against Negroes.

​​Susan B Anthony Speech part 2 - 1872

Multiple Choice

The 15th Amendment (1870) made it so Black males could now vote. Everyone in the United States was now able to participate in democracy.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

"Having the right to vote" is represented by the word:

• Appellate

• Sentiment

• Levy

• Suffrage

Multiple Choice

What year was Susan B. Anthony born?

• 2020

• 1820

• 1901

• 1417

Multiple Choice

Susan B. Anthony was a...

• Catholic

• Buddhist

• Quaker

• Other

Multiple Choice

The first women's rights convention was in...

• Niagara Falls

• Seneca Fall

• Blue Island

• Endor

Multiple Choice

Why was Susan B Anthony arrested?

• She beat up an innocent person.

• She cheated on her driving test.

• She robbed a bank because she needed money.

• She voted during a time when women weren't allowed to vote.

Multiple Choice

How did getting fined for voting affect Susan B Anthony?

• She promised to never vote again.

• She paid $100 and rarely discussed it.

• She took a break from speaking for a month.

• She spoke out more for women's voting rights.

Open Ended

Friends and fellow citizens: I stand before you tonight under indictment (accusation) for the alleged (supposed) crime of having voted at the last presidential election, without having a lawful right to vote. It shall be my work this evening to prove to you that in thus voting, I not only committed no crime, but, instead, simply exercised my citizen’s rights, guaranteed to me and all United States citizens by the National Constitution, beyond the power of any state to deny.

What is the effect of Anthony starting her speech with, “Friends and fellow citizens”?

Open Ended

The preamble of the Federal Constitution says: "We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

In what way does reading the entire preamble of the Constitution set the tone for the speech?

Multiple Choice

For any state to make sex a qualification that must ever result in the disfranchisement (denial) of one entire half of the people, is to pass a bill of attainder (punishment without trial), or, an ex post facto law (illegal after), and is therefore a violation of the supreme law of the land. By it the blessings of liberty are forever withheld from women and their female posterity.

What is the BEST conclusion that can be drawn from this paragraph?

• Anthony believes there should be qualifications to vote.

• Anthony believes the state laws are not legal.

• Anthony believes that laws need to clarify who can vote.

• Anthony believes that states do not need to make laws.

Open Ended

The only question left to be settled now is: Are women persons? And I hardly believe any of

our opponents will have the hardihood (strength) to say they are not. Being persons, then, women are

citizens; and no state has a right to make any law, or to enforce any old law, that shall abridge

their privileges or immunities (protection). Hence, every discrimination against women in the constitutions and laws of the several states is today null and void (no legal power), precisely as is every one against Negroes.

Which conclusion can be drawn from the last paragraph of the speech?

Multiple Choice

"To them this government is not a democracy. It is not a republic. It is an odious (terrible) aristocracy (upper class); a hateful oligarchy (rule by few) of sex; the most hateful aristocracy ever established on the face of the globe; an oligarchy of wealth, where the rich govern the poor. An oligarchy of learning, where the

educated govern the ignorant, or even an oligarchy of race, where the Saxon (white European) rules the African, might be endured; but this oligarchy of sex, which makes father, brothers, husband, sons, the oligarchs over the mother and sisters, the wife and daughters, of every household—which ordains (declare) all men sovereigns, all women subjects, carries dissension (disagreement), discord, and rebellion into every home of the nation...."

Based on the examples Anthony gives, an "oligarchy" is a government in which:

• older people have more power

• women are discriminated against

• all rulers are cruel and unjust

• a few people govern many people

Open Ended

Susan B. Anthony asked the question, “Are women people?” What events lead to her to having to ask that question?

Multiple Choice

Women finally won the right to vote with the passing of the 19th Amendment in what year?

• 1920

• 2002

• 1955

• 1820

Open Ended

How was Susan B Anthony similar to the other protesters we learned about today?

Martin Luther King Jr.

Caesar Chavez