ANC - Document Analysis - The Changing Status of Women Lesson
Document Analysis - The Changing Status of Women
The Progressive Era saw many changes in the status of women and the victory of the women's movement on major issues that they had been pushing for since the mid 19th Century. The Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 and the Declaration that it produced boldly called for suffrage (the right to vote) for women. This was a radical statement for the time. Many women also joined the temperance movement to ban and restrict alcohol.
These movements gained steam throughout the Progressive Movement. Many men, and women as well, did not support these measures at first. The idea that women were not to take a leadership role and were the "weaker" sex was strongly rooted in society. But women continued to push for change. Many women worked hard in the industrial revolution and more women were gaining access to educational opportunities. Gradually, public opinion shifted and in 1919 the 18th Amendment was passed that banned alcohol. One year later the 19th Amendment was ratified and gave women the right to vote. Two key goals of the women's movement, spanning seven decades of activism, had been achieved. While prohibition would be repealed, women's suffrage was here to stay. Women continued to push for equality in numerous areas, including more access to the workplace in the coming decades.
Examine these 5 documents and then answer the questions that follow. You can also download a pdf copy of the documents here. Links to an external site.
Questions
- How does Document 1 show the strategy and growing influence of the movement for voting rights for women?
- Document 2 references another movement in addition to the push for suffrage that was widely supported by women. What was it?
- Carrie Chapman Catt and some other suffragettes argued that women needed to be able to vote to offset the votes of what group?
- In what ways did Susan B. Anthony experience opposition to the push for women's suffrage? Why does she feel women should be able to vote?
- What action led to the success of the women's suffrage movement on a national scale?
Answer the questions on your own paper or word processing document.
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