Alex Farmer

POLS-1100-018-F15
September 20, 2015
Assignment #3
Amendment 19
Its difficult to look back on American history, and imagine a world where women had no
political say in society. Protests were raised, hardships were faced, and many obstacles stood in
the way of gaining equality. But tenacity was key in this long and grueling fight, and after many
years of battling, the fight was won, change was achieved, and the 19th Amendment of the United
States Constitution was put into place.
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. Congress shall have power to enforce this
article by appropriate legislation (The Constitution of the United States). These words were
officially ratified into the Constitution in 1920, taking decades to accomplish, and many
struggles and strategies went into play in order to achieve this. Some tried to pass suffrage into
each individual state, which worked to an extent, others challenged the male-only voting laws
directly to the courts, and many fought in the front lines using tactics such as parades, protests,
using silent vigils, and participating in hunger strikes. But these attempts were often met with
harsh resistance, jail, and even physical abuse. (The Constitution of the United States:
Amendment 19; Charters of Freedom)
Of the many people that fought for womens suffrage, a few important figures included
Susan B. Anthony and Sojourner Truth. In the early stages of the fight for womens suffrage,
Susan B. Anthony made many important actions towards the equal rights of women. One such

act included voting illegally in the 1872 election, landing her in jail. She was then tried and
charged $100 for her crime, which she had claimed to the court, may it please your Honor, I
will never pay a dollar of your unjust penalty. Though Anthony had never officially gained the
right to vote because of her death in 1906, her efforts have lived on, even to this day, towards
ultimate and universal equality.Meanwhile, in Ohio 1851, former slave, abolitionist worker, and
female activist, Sojourner Truth was delivering her Aint I a Woman speech to a Womens
Rights Convention in Akron. If my cup won't hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn't
you be mean not to let me have my little half measure full? This short, but powerful speech
spoke to many on that day, and continue to speak to women throughout the world. Not only were
Anthonys and Truths words inspiring for women, but it was inspiring for all women of all
colors, class and backgrounds. (Susan B. Anthony-Womens History-HISTORY.com; Sojourner
Truth-Black History-HISTORY.com)
In opposition, many did not believe that women deserved these basic human rights, and
fought until their dying breath to defend this idea. An example of this opposition was a debate
that was held on March 28, 1912 which was called the Conciliation Bill, and it was intended to
enfranchise about one million women voters. One particular voter at this debate was a Mr. LaneFox who had stated, The strongest reason, in my opinion, why we should not grant the vote to
women is that it means the beginning of taking women away from the home into what must
necessarily be the rather dirty game of politics. Everybody must know that a man without a
woman to look after his home and his children is incompetent. The home cannot go on.
(Debate_1912) The debate went forward, and unfortunately, more people at the end of it had
opposed the bill than those who were for it (Arguments against Womens SuffrageJohndclare.net). So the fight continued and a few years after oppositions like these, it was

interesting to notice a change in politics, which seemed to happen in a pretty rapid time
considering how long the whole process of gaining womens rights itself had taken. In 1917,
New York adopted womens suffrage and soon after in 1918, President Woodrow Wilson, who
had in previous years opposed this right, was in support of the amendment.This was where a
political shift began to occur. In 1919, the House of Representatives passed the amendment, and
the Senate followed shortly after.Its similar to how politics work today in that often, ideas, or
laws, or bills etc., seem to follow the bigger, or more populated states such as California, New
York, or Texas. Whether or not its true, it seems that in the fight for womens rights, the
President, House, Senate, and the rest of the states had, in this instance, followed the crowd.
(The Constitution of the United States: Amendment 19; Charters of Freedom)
The impact of this particular amendment, as well as the ideas that created its foundations,
has been enormous throughout our history, as well as the rest of the world. It has set the standard
for women everywhere. Though basic rights are still being fought for, whether it be voting, equal
pay, or the rights to ones own body. There is still a long road to travel, but in the meantime,
progress has been made, and progress will continue to happen.

References
Arguments against Women's Suffrage. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2015, from
http://www.johndclare.net/Women1_ArgumentsAgainst.htm
Debate_1912. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2015, from
http://www.johndclare.net/women_debate_1912.htm#Mr Lane-Fox
Sojourner Truth. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2015, from
http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/sojourner-truth
Susan B. Anthony. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2015, from
http://www.history.com/topics/womens-history/susan-b-anthony
The Constitution of the United States: Amendment 19. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2015,
from http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_amendment_19.html
U.S. Constitution - Amendment 19 - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net. (n.d.).
Retrieved September 20, 2015, from http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst_Am19.html