Jeannette Rankin Biography Essay

Susan B. Anthony, a women’s rights supporter, knew exactly what she believed in. She stood firm for herself and her beliefs. She felt the need to represent other women in fighting for their rights. She fought for women by campaigning for women’s rights all around the nation. When male members of the movement refused to let her speak at rallies, simply because she was a woman, she realized that women had to win the right to speak in public and to vote

First and foremost, the fight for women’s rights is something that has occurred throughout time not only in the United States, but in every part of the world. When it comes to the United States, one cannot deny that it was an important historical event. “The struggle for women’s suffrage in the United States had occupied better part of a century” (Source 1). Truly a struggle, for it was not acknowledged by men in the past, primarily white man who had full rights in the nation. Susan B. Anthony was an important leading figure of the Suffrage Movement and contributed to the Suffrage Movement.

She was a well respected woman that many thought was going to lead woman in the fight for equal rights.

Revised Thesis: The women’s suffrage movement opened many doors for the women of America and allowed them to achieve many objects they had never before thought of including: economic roles, political positions, and a place in social society.

In 1916 Jeannette Pickering Rankin became the first woman to be elected into the United States congress. Rankin gave women a voice at a time they did not have one. She was the only woman who voted to give women the right to vote. She opened debates in congress about a constitutional amendment which gave all women the right to vote. Rankin paved the way for women like Alice Mary Robertson (who became the first to overthrow a man in a general election). She made it possible for people like myself to speak out against society.

Generations of women fought courageously for equality for decades. The ratification of the Nineteenth amendment was vindication for so many women across the country. After having spent so many years oppressed and unable to make way for themselves, women everywhere were growing tired of being unable to own property, keep their wages and the independence that an academic education gave them. The decades that ensued brought with them various female activists, men that supported them and a division of its own within the movement. The women’s suffrage movement lasted 71 years and cam with great discourse to the lives of many women who fought for the cause.

The fight for women suffrage was one of the largest reform movements of the Progressive era. In the twentieth century, it was hard for American’s to understand why the right to vote was a big disagreement. Alan Brinkley, an American historian, wrote, “that woman

Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucy Stone created one of the first organizations in New York, 1848. (Lewis B.R. Women at War: the women of World War 2; at home, at work, on the Front Line) The goal of this movement was to bring attention to the public about restrictions against women and to address the issues regarding equality between men and women. However, the main goal was to earn themselves the right to vote. These women promoted their ideas and concerns by speaking in girl schools and in public as well as participating in the hostings of parades around the White House. All of the women’s information was beginning to influence others, therefore, they received support from people outside of the movement. Finally, after all of the fighting women did to gain liberation, the government passed the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920 which granted women a right to vote. (https://www.nwhm.org/online-exhibits/progressiveera/home.html) Thus, after all the protesting, marches, parades and organizations, women’s voices were finally heard and they now felt more equal to men because their long term goal was achieved.

The battle for suffrage was a long and slow process. Many women tried to initiate the fight for suffrage, like Alice Paul and Lucy Burns. “These were the New Suffragists: women who were better educated, more career-oriented, younger, less apt to be married and more cosmopolitan than their previous generation.” (pg 17) Eventually, in 1920, the 19th amendment was ratified; allowing women to vote, but it was not any one person or event that achieved this great feat. It was the confluence of certain necessary factors, the picketing and parades led by Alice Paul, militaristic suffrage parties and the influence of the media that caused the suffrage amendment to be passed and ratified in 1920. But most importantly, they successfully moved both

She did countless things to pass an amendment which would grant the women their wish of being able to have their rights. Including a hunger strike, a silent protest, and she even endured force feeding. In Alice Paul it says, “For five months the White House siege continued; while Congress refused to act without word from the president.” (William and Mary Lavender 4). This shows the frustration that she had to go through, and how much the government seemed stubborn. She never gave up despite knowing the fact that president Wilson wouldn’t budge. In the end she was able to convince president Wilson. She never even married. If that doesn’t show her devotion I don’t know what

The National League of Women Voters (NLWV) was established in the 1920’s to help educate women about their rights, study national social policy, and take part in local politics. In 1923 Representative Mae Ella Nolan of California became the first woman to chair a congressional committee. Culturally, the first generation of women in Congress had several commonalities and they were all white. Right to having high jobs such as in congress was very important to women because then they can give more freedom to themselves and it shows

Jeannette Pickering Rankin was born on June 11th, 1880 on a ranch in Montana to a school teacher mother and a rancher father and was the eldest of 11 children (“Jeannette Rankin”). Rankin moved to Missoula, Montana as a toddler where she began to attend school. In her childhood, a normal day would consist of assisting her parents in daily chores and outdoor works with her father (“Jeannette Rankin Biography”). When growing up, Rankins parents always encouraged her to think beyond the narrow opportunities women were permitted in the 20th century(history.com)

The timeline of women’s suffrage is a one that spans from 1848 to 1920. The women’s rights movement in the United States started in the year 1848 with the first women’s rights convention held in Seneca Falls, New York. During this convention the ‘Declaration of sentiments’ was signed by 68 women who agreed that women deserved their own political identities. This document set forward the agenda for the women’s rights movement. In the year 1869, Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton formed the National Women’s suffrage Association which demanded that the 15th amendment be changed to include women right to vote. In the year 1890, The National Women Suffrage Association and the American Women Suffrage Association merged to form National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). Colorado was the first state to grant women the right to vote in the year 1893, followed by Utah, Idaho, Washington, California, Oregon, Kansas, Arizona, Alaska, Illinois, Montana, Nevada, New York, Michigan, South Dakota and Oklahoma. The National Association of Colored Women was formed in the year 1896 to promote the civil rights of colored women. The National Women’s Trade Union League was established in the year 1903 in order to improve the working condition for women and also to bring their wages in par with that of men.

Jeannette Rankin believed, “What one decides to do in crisis depends on one 's philosophy of life, and that philosophy cannot be changed by an incident. If one hasn 't any philosophy in crises, others make the decision" (Lewis, 2011). This quote introduces us to the life of an amazing woman who dedicated her life to the rights of women, children, blue-collar workers, veterans and most importantly - peace. Many times in this paper, Jeanette 's own quotes will serve as the voice of her moral courage. Born in an era of limited women 's rights, Jeannette Rankin challenged conventional thought about the influence and power of a woman. She was the first woman elected to Congress,

After Henry Fawcett’s death, Millicent Fawcett became much more devoted to her campaigning (Pattingson). As a result, she became a member of the Personal Rights Association, which devoted protecting women who were vulnerable. In 1890, she was elected the president of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) which was the largest group campaigning for women to be able to vote, and emphasised on being peaceful. While the primary purpose of the NUWSS was to support women receiving equal rights, Fawcett ensured that it aided other important issues at that time, such as trading slaves. When the government refused to grant women voting rights for the 1904-1914 time period, outrage broke out among the NUWSS. Some protested violently by throwing rocks in windows and went on hunger strikes when out in jail.. This divided the NUWSS, as it violated the policy of being peaceful. Shortly after, the NUWSS disbanded and Millicent retired. Despite her being retired, she still advocated for education for Indian women, women being able to receive degrees from Cambridge, and overall create an appreciable opportunity for women in a subtle way. As you can perceive, Fawcett was a vital upstander in countless ways. Fawcett was devoted