Women Suffrage Essays Examples

Women suffrage movement began in mid-19th century. The movement’s main agenda was to empower women to stand for electoral posts as well as their right to vote during elections. There were events that involved important people and groups of people that contributed to the achievement of women’s suffrage.
One such important event that provoked women’s suffrage movement was the 1867 amendment by John Mill. It sought to grand women right to vote similar to the ones enjoyed by men. Though the amendment was rejected, it fuelled the campaign for women suffrage across Europe and America. Another major event that sparked women suffrage movement was the industrial revolution. Prior to the women suffrage era, a woman’s place in the society was thought to be looking after children and performing other household duties. Matters of politics and leadership were left to the men. However, during the industrial revolution in the 19th century, women were employed to work in factories where they interacted and formed social groups. These social interactions became organisations that required women to elect leaders and managers among themselves. As a result, women were empowered to demand participation in politics at a level similar to that of men.
The women’s suffrage movement was pioneered by several women and men that are today considered in history as the champions of women suffrage. One such person was Elizabeth Stanton. She lobbied women to fight for what she believed were their rights. In 1890 she co-founded the National American Women Suffrage Association (NAWSA) of which she was subsequently elected the association’s president. Others women who lobbied for women suffrage in the progressive era included Alice Paul, Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony and Jeannette Rankin. Apart from NAWSA, other organisations that championed women suffrage movement were, International Council of Women (ICW), American Women Suffrage Association (AWSA) and National Woman’s Party (NWP).
These lobby groups successfully petitioned Congress to pass a constitutional amendment on the right of women to vote as well as seek a political office. The amendment was ratified in 1920 under the leadership of President Wilson.