Women's Suffrage

In 1776 The United States ripped itself free from British King George III with the words, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." Thus the American Revolution began. The French people also had a revolution. They stood up to King Louis XVI, demanding that he accept their belief that "Men are born and remain free and equal in rights." So began the French Revolution.

“All men are created equal” truly only referred to men. So as nations began to feel the need for equality among classes in the late 1700s, women also began to question their rights and limitations in society. And the women's revolution began.

The revolution for women's rights proved even more challenging than both the French and American Revolutions. The “enemy” of women's rights was hard to define. Women knew that they were limited in society compared to men, but lack of a clear oppressor made it more challenging for women to band together and fight for their rights.

The author states that the fight for women's rights

• was easier than the American and French Revolutions

• was more difficult than the American and French Revolutions

• was first proposed in 1776 by the British King George III

• was limited because men were their enemy

In 1776 The United States ripped itself free from British King George III with the words, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." Thus the American Revolution began. The French people also had a revolution. They stood up to King Louis XVI, demanding that he accept their belief that "Men are born and remain free and equal in rights." So began the French Revolution.

“All men are created equal” truly only referred to men. So as nations began to feel the need for equality among classes in the late 1700s, women also began to question their rights and limitations in society. And the women's revolution began.

The revolution for women's rights proved even more challenging than both the French and American Revolutions. The “enemy” of women's rights was hard to define. Women knew that they were limited in society compared to men, but lack of a clear oppressor made it more challenging for women to band together and fight for their rights.

How was the revolution for women’s rights different from the American and French Revolutions?

• The American and French Revolutions were fights against kings, while the revolution for women’s rights was a fight against a queen.

• The American and French Revolutions had clear oppressors while the revolution for women’s rights did not.

• The American and French Revolutions were not successful, while the revolution for women’s rights was.

• The American and French Revolutions happened in the 1700s, while the revolution for women’s rights happened in the 1900s.

The first important moment in the fight for women’s rights occurred in 1792, when British writer Mary Wollstonecraft wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.

Wollstonecraft argued against the degrading way that women expected to be treated by their husbands and other men. She equated the treatment of women with the treatment of slaves. Wollstonecraft thought that women were partly responsible for passing down these expectations to their daughters and that it had to stop. She and her followers saw marriage itself as a form of oppression.

Wollstonecraft started a movement. Women were inspired by Wollstonecraft's writings, and they began to join together with other women who felt the same way.

Which is true, according to the text?

• Mary Wollstonecraft argued for more degrading treatment of women

• Mary Wollstonecraft was an American abolitionist

• Mary Wollstonecraft wanted every wife to have the assistance of a slave

• Mary Wollstonecraft wrote a book and inspired other women to fight for better treatment

The first important moment in the fight for women’s rights occurred in 1792, when British writer Mary Wollstonecraft wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.

Wollstonecraft argued against the degrading way that women expected to be treated by their husbands and other men. She equated the treatment of women with the treatment of slaves. Wollstonecraft thought that women were partly responsible for passing down these expectations to their daughters and that it had to stop. She and her followers saw marriage itself as a form of oppression.

Wollstonecraft started a movement. Women were inspired by Wollstonecraft's writings, and they began to join together with other women who felt the same way.

A Vindication of the Rights of Women argued that

• women should not teach their daughters to accept poor treatment by men.

• women were treated fairly in society, and nothing needed to change.

• men treated women badly, and the solution was to get married.

• a woman’s most important job was to prepare her daughter for marriage.

In 1848, women gathered together in Seneca Falls, New York, to rally for women's rights. This convention for women's rights was the first of its kind. At the Seneca Falls Convention, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, one of the most famous women’s rights advocates, led the writing of the “Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions.”

It was modeled on the Declaration of Independence. Instead of demanding freedom from the British, these women demanded rights. The Declaration of Independence listed 18 grievances, or complaints, so the women at this convention did so, too. Their complaints included the fact that women had no property rights, they were dependent on men and they were not allowed to become doctors and lawyers. But perhaps the most important grievance was that women were not allowed to vote.

Which is the best summary of the above text?

• It's about the Seneca Falls Convention.

• It was modeled on the Declaration of Independence. Instead of demanding freedom from the British, these women demanded rights.

• The Seneca Falls Convention for women's rights created the Declaration of Sentiments, listing complaints about the nation's treatment of women, such as lack of property or voting rights.

• Seneca Falls Convention of 1848

In 1848, women gathered together in Seneca Falls, New York, to rally for women's rights. This convention for women's rights was the first of its kind. At the Seneca Falls Convention, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, one of the most famous women’s rights advocates, led the writing of the “Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions.”

It was modeled on the Declaration of Independence. Instead of demanding freedom from the British, these women demanded rights. The Declaration of Independence listed 18 grievances, or complaints, so the women at this convention did so, too. Their complaints included the fact that women had no property rights, they were dependent on men and they were not allowed to become doctors and lawyers. But perhaps the most important grievance was that women were not allowed to vote.

With which of these statements would Elizabeth Cady Stanton most likely agree?

• Property rights are not an important issue for women.

• “The Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions” is a way of compromising with men.

• Being a doctor is not a very ladylike profession.

• In order to be full citizens of the United States, women must be allowed to vote.

The right to vote is called suffrage, and women who fought for this right were known as suffragists. One of the most outspoken suffragists was Susan B. Anthony. She and Elizabeth Cady Stanton created the National Women's Suffrage Association (NWSA).

At first, the fight for women’s suffrage was unsuccessful. The leaders of the NWSA decided that they would try a different tactic. Instead of trying to change voting laws, they claimed that the Constitution actually said they already had the right to vote. So in 1872, approximately 150 women tried to vote, and a few, including Susan B. Anthony, were actually able to submit ballots. But this tactic didn't work. Anthony and the others were arrested, and eventually the Supreme Court said that women definitely did not have the right to vote.

The battle for voting rights was slow. It took until 1920 for Congress to ratify, or pass, the Nineteenth Amendment, which finally allowed all American women the right to vote.

Define suffragist:

• women's rights

• right to vote

• a women who worked for women's right to vote

• a Constitutional amendment, giving women the right to vote

The right to vote is called suffrage, and women who fought for this right were known as suffragists. One of the most outspoken suffragists was Susan B. Anthony. She and Elizabeth Cady Stanton created the National Women's Suffrage Association (NWSA).

At first, the fight for women’s suffrage was unsuccessful. The leaders of the NWSA decided that they would try a different tactic. Instead of trying to change voting laws, they claimed that the Constitution actually said they already had the right to vote. So in 1872, approximately 150 women tried to vote, and a few, including Susan B. Anthony, were actually able to submit ballots. But this tactic didn't work. Anthony and the others were arrested, and eventually the Supreme Court said that women definitely did not have the right to vote.

The battle for voting rights was slow. It took until 1920 for Congress to ratify, or pass, the Nineteenth Amendment, which finally allowed all American women the right to vote.

In this text, what argument did Susan B. Anthony give to argue that she could vote

• she said that the Constitution already gave women the right to vote

• she said that the Seneca Falls Convention gave women the right to vote

• the battle for voting rights was slow

• they were trying to change the law

The right to vote is called suffrage, and women who fought for this right were known as suffragists. One of the most outspoken suffragists was Susan B. Anthony. She and Elizabeth Cady Stanton created the National Women's Suffrage Association (NWSA).

At first, the fight for women’s suffrage was unsuccessful. The leaders of the NWSA decided that they would try a different tactic. Instead of trying to change voting laws, they claimed that the Constitution actually said they already had the right to vote. So in 1872, approximately 150 women tried to vote, and a few, including Susan B. Anthony, were actually able to submit ballots. But this tactic didn't work. Anthony and the others were arrested, and eventually the Supreme Court said that women definitely did not have the right to vote.

The battle for voting rights was slow. It took until 1920 for Congress to ratify, or pass, the Nineteenth Amendment, which finally allowed all American women the right to vote.

When some women tried to vote in the election of 1872,

• the government recognized the women’s right to vote, and all women were able to vote in the next election.

• Susan B. Anthony and others said the suffragists should try a different tactic instead.

• they were arrested, and the Supreme Court said they did not have the right to vote at all.

• the election needed to be redone so that only the men’s votes would count.

Once women won the right to vote in the United States, the feminist movement did not have a clear next direction. Women's activists could not agree on a cause to fight for.

During World War I and World War II, women were asked to join the war effort. Women became essential in building things needed for the waging of war, like warships, airplanes, and ammunition. Propaganda figures like Rosie the Riveter, who was popular during World War II, encouraged women to take jobs in factories previously held by men.

But after the war, men expected to return to their factory jobs, and most women returned home and didn’t go back to work. It was from the difficulties of being a housewife that the next feminist movement began.

Who encouraged women to work in factories during WWII?

• Rosie the Riveter

• Donald Duck

• Nobody

• Women's activists