SENECA FALLS I do not believe that women

SENECA FALLS I do not believe that women are better than men. We have not wrecked railroads, nor corrupted legislature, nor done many unholy things that men have done; but then we must remember that we have not had the chance. Jane Addams

WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE Suffrage = the right to vote in political elections Women did not achieve the right to vote until 1920 19 t h Amendment § Guarantees all American women the right to vote

SENECA FALLS CONVENTION A gathering of female leaders who had been involved in the Quaker involvement in the abolition movement July 15, 1848 Decided to call for a convention to discuss their frustrations over the women’s movement in the United States § “A Convention to discuss the social, civic and religious condition and rights of Woman will be held in the Wesleyan Chapel at Seneca Falls, New York, on Wednesday and Thursday, the 19 th and 20 th of July. …” Despite short notice, 300 men and women turned out for the convention The Declaration of Sentiments mirrored the feeling of reform on the moment

ELIZABETH CADY STANTON American suffragist, social activist, abolitionist, leading figure of the women’s rights movement Her concerns included parental rights, birth control, divorce, the economic health of the family, and property rights Married, with 7 children (!) Declined to support the passage of the 14 th and 15 th amendments

DECLARATION OF SENTIMENTS Comparing the original Declaration with this one, do you think Stanton and Mott were wise to use the first as their model? Why or why not? What is the conclusion of the Declaration of Sentiments? What is the rhetorical strength of this document?

OPPOSITION TO SUFFRAGE

OPPOSITION TO SUFFRAGE National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage § 1911 § Both men AND women were members Argued that most women did not want the vote Miss Minnie Bronson, secretary of the Association Opposed to Woman’s Suffrage, called suffrage a “dangerous experiment” and blamed the relatively new Progressive Party for promoting it.

ARGUMENT AGAINST WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE What are the arguments being made against suffrage? What is the rhetorical strength of this document? How is this document successful in both building women up and also holding them back?

SATIRICAL CARTOON (WITH QUOTES ) In pairs, create a satirical cartoon that captures the argument for or against women’s suffrage. Use one quote from one of the texts as ‘evidence’. Things to think about when creating the cartoon and selecting the quote 1. How are women being supported by others 2. How are women being criticized by others