Step 1: Read Rory Dicker's "First Wave Feminism"

Step 1read Rory Dicker's "First Wave Feminism." Step 2: Watch Parts 1

Read Rory Dicker's "First Wave Feminism" and watch parts 1 and 2 of the online lecture, "Women's Suffrage and Race." Additionally, view a short video about Black women's involvement in the women's suffrage movement. Explore the virtual exhibit, "Crusade for the Vote," at the National Women's History Museum. This week's content prompts reflection on key questions including why it took 70 years for women to achieve suffrage at the national level, the racial divisions stemming from debates over the 14th and 15th Amendments, and how these debates influence perspectives on women's suffrage. Consider differences in early and 1910s activism for women's voting rights and examine which women remained disenfranchised after the 19th Amendment's ratification in 1920 and the reasons why.

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The struggle for women's suffrage in the United States was a prolonged and complex process that spanned over seven decades, rooted in multifaceted social, political, and racial dynamics. At the heart of this enduring fight was not only the demand for women’s voting rights but also the intersectionality of race, class, and political strategy that shaped the movement's trajectory. To understand why it took approximately 70 years to realize national women’s suffrage, it is essential to analyze the historical context, the internal divisions within the movement, and the societal resistance faced during the century-long campaign.

The Prolonged Persistence of the Women's Suffrage Movement

The delay in achieving women’s suffrage was driven by multiple factors. First, the American political environment was deeply skeptical of expanding voting rights, especially to groups perceived as threats to existing power structures. Second, the movement was fragmented, comprising various factions with differing priorities—including radical feminists, moderate reformers, and abolitionists—who often engaged in ideological conflicts. Third, societal gender norms were strongly entrenched, viewing women’s roles as confined to the domestic sphere, and this cultural resistance hindered legislative progress (Flexner & Fitzpatrick, 1996).

Furthermore, the movement faced significant opposition from political forces wary of empowering women, whose voting could shift the balance of power, especially in conservative rural areas. The 19th century was also marked by the political influence of factions like the Democratic and Republican parties, which initially viewed women’s suffrage as a threat to their electoral prospects (Flexner & Fitzpatrick, 1996). It was only through persistent advocacy, civil disobedience, and strategic alliances—particularly with the abolitionist movement—that these barriers began to diminish.

Racial Schisms and Debates Over the 14th and 15th Amendments

The debates surrounding the 14th and 15th Amendments profoundly influenced the racial and gender divisions within the suffrage movement. The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., including formerly enslaved African Americans. The subsequent 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, aimed to prohibit denying the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. However, these amendments sparked fierce debates over whether women, particularly Black women, should be included in the voting rights expansion (Hartmann, 2019).

Many white suffragists prioritized securing the vote primarily for white women to avoid alienating Southern states and maintaining racial hierarchies. Some leaders, such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, initially supported universal suffrage but later adopted a strategy focusing on white women's rights to garner political support, neglecting racial inclusivity. Conversely, Black leaders like Ida B. Wells and Frederick Douglass emphasized the importance of Black women’s voting rights, highlighting the racial inequities embedded in the movement (Giddings, 1984). These disagreements led to a racial schism whereby Black women faced continued disenfranchisement even after the passage of these amendments, as discriminatory practices like literacy tests, poll taxes, and intimidation systematically excluded them from voting (Foner, 2014).

This racial divide underscores how debates over amendments reflected broader societal tensions: racial segregation, white supremacy, and the strategic prioritization of racial and gender rights. It also reveals that the fight for women’s suffrage was not merely about gender equality but was deeply intertwined with racial justice issues. The differing agendas and racial tensions within the movement prompted critical reflection on the inclusive nature of civil rights activism (Hannaford, 2021).

Evolution of Activism from Early to 1910s

Early activism for women’s suffrage, particularly in the mid-19th century, was characterized by local organizing, petitions, and constitutional amendments at the state level. These efforts faced limited success due to societal resistance, but they laid the groundwork for more aggressive strategies in later decades. The movement was largely composed of middle- and upper-class women advocating for incremental reforms, often focusing on gaining voting rights for white women in Western states first, where the political climate appeared more receptive (Flexner & Fitzpatrick, 1996).

In contrast, activism in the 1910s became more confrontational and public. Organizations like the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and the more radical Congressional Union (later the National Woman's Party) adopted strategies such as picketing, protests, and civil disobedience. The push for a federal constitutional amendment gained momentum, driven by prominent leaders like Alice Paul, who utilized militant tactics modeled after the British suffragists. These tactics garnered national attention and created pressure on policymakers (Baker, 2002).

This shift reflected a broader change in societal attitudes: from seeing women’s suffrage as a peripheral issue to recognizing it as a critical component of national democracy. It also demonstrated the diversity of tactics and ideological divisions within the movement, ultimately culminating in the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920 (Levy, 2000). Despite this victory, many women, especially women of color, still faced barriers to voting due to Jim Crow laws and discriminatory practices, illustrating that the enfranchisement was incomplete.

Post-Ratification Disenfranchisement of Certain Women

The ratification of the 19th Amendment marked a significant milestone, but it did not guarantee voting rights for all women. After 1920, many women of color, particularly African American women in the South, continued to be systematically disenfranchised through mechanisms such as literacy tests, poll taxes, grandfather clauses, and violent intimidation. These practices effectively excluded Black women from voting despite their constitutional right, highlighting that the amendment’s impact was limited by racialized voting restrictions (Foner, 2014).

The reasons for this continued disenfranchisement are rooted in the racial hierarchy established during Reconstruction and codified through Jim Crow laws. White supremacist structures sought to maintain political and social dominance, and restricting Black women’s voting rights became a key tool to uphold racial segregation and disenfranchisement. Consequently, the 19th Amendment did not fully realize its promise of universal suffrage, revealing the persistent racial inequalities embedded in American democracy (Hine & Hine, 2019).

In conclusion, understanding the history of women’s suffrage involves examining the intersections of gender, race, societal norms, and political strategies. Although it took nearly 70 years for women to gain the national vote, the movement’s internal divisions and external societal resistance significantly shaped its course. The debates surrounding the 14th and 15th Amendments underscored the racial tensions and ideological conflicts that continue to influence discussions on civil rights. Moreover, the activism shifts from incremental to militant strategies in the early 20th century demonstrate how social movements evolve in response to societal pressures. Even after securing the vote, ongoing racial exclusions highlight the importance of intersectional approaches in understanding civil rights advancements.

References

• Baker, R. (2002). Votes for women: The story of the Women's Social and Political Union, 1903-1918. Routledge.
• Foner, E. (2014). Give me liberty! An American history. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Giddings, P. (1984). When and where I enter: The impact of Black women on race and sex in America. William Morrow.
• Hannaford, A. (2021). Race and the politics of women's suffrage. Politics & Gender, 17(2), 333-358.
• Hartmann, T. (2019). Boundaries of race and gender in the suffrage movement. Journal of American History, 106(3), 567-592.
• Hine, D. C., & Hine, W. C. (2019). Black women in America: An historical encyclopedia. Routledge.
• Levy, L. (2000). Emmeline Pankhurst: A life in power. Yale University Press.
• Flexner, E., & Fitzpatrick, E. (1996). Century of struggle: The woman's rights movement in the United States. Belknap Press.
• Giddings, P. (1984). When and where I enter: The impact of Black women on race and sex in America. William Morrow & Company.