Historical Background of the Womens Rights Movement in

Historical Background of the Women’s Rights Movement in the United States 1

Why were women fighting for their rights? What was life like for women in the 1800’s? What rights did they have? How were they treated differently than men? What were the expectations of women? 2

Women were treated like second-class citizens 3

Women were looked down upon Socially Economically Politically 4

Socially Women were viewed as less superior to white males. Therefore, they were denied many rights. 5

Marriage After women got married… They did not have the right to own property. They could not keep their wages($). They could not sign a contract. 6

Stay Home! People believed that a woman’s role was to: Cook Clean Take care of the family 7

Education Women were not encouraged to get formal education There was very little educational opportunity for women 8

Economically Women were NOT encouraged to pursue a professional career. Women were discriminated against and given very few options for jobs Their salaries were very low. 9

Politically Women could not vote Women could not hold a public office. 10

Debate Questions Do you believe men are superior to women? Do you believe it is the woman’s role to cook, clean and take care of the family? Should women have the same opportunities for education as men? Should women have the same opportunities for employment (jobs)? Should women and men be paid equally? Should a woman hold a public office? 11

Elizabeth Cady Stanton 1815 -1902 12

Elizabeth Cady Stanton American suffragist Social activist Abolitionist Leader in the early women’s right’s movement 13

Seneca Falls Convention In 1848, Stanton spoke at the convention in Seneca Falls, NY She is credited with initiating the first women’s right and women’s suffrage movement in the United States 14

“An Address by Elizabeth Cady Stanton” She addressed concerns beyond voting rights Her concerns included women's parental and custody rights, property rights, employment and income rights 15

Woman Suffrage Movement The movement lasted more than 70 years! It involved 3 generations of women. Millions of women participated in the movement. 16

Activists Suffrage activists spent more than 50 years educating the public. Suffragists participated in dramatic, non-violent, militant action to win their right to vote. 17

Women's suffragists parade in New York City in 1917, carrying placards with signatures of more than a million women 18

19 th Amendment In 1920, women were granted the right to vote 19