Lesson 7: Women's Suffrage

FOCUS ACTIVITY
I Can Do It!

I can describe how women fought for and gained the right to vote.

TEACHING ACTIVITY
Guided Reading

DIRECTIONS: We are now going to read today's text as a class. Remember to follow along. I will select readers randomly by calling out numbers. Important terms, people, places, and events are highlighted in the toolbox.

THE WOMAN'S FIGHT

Drawing of the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848

The year was 1900. The United States was moving into a time period that would later be named the Progressive Era. It was a time of change and progress.

It had been over 50 years since the women at the Seneca Falls Convention had declared that women were entitled to equal rights, but still women did not have the right to vote.

Building an Army

Susan B. Anthony

Ten years earlier, the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) -- had been formed from a combination of two large women's rights groups. Even though the two groups did not always see eye to eye, they decided that it was important to work together in this important cause of winning the right to vote.

Susan B Anthony pummeled and arrested for attempting to vote in 1872. She was fined $100 for registering to vote.

Susan B. Anthony, one of the most famous women's rights activists, led the NAWSA.

Members of the NAWSA used many different tactics to let the public know that democracy was not yet shared by all Americans. The NAWSA became a powerful and very organized political group. The methods that they used are still used by lobbyists and political activists today. They formed coalitions, targeted particular groups, practiced civil disobedience, marched in parades, and lobbied politicians.

The coalitions they formed were mixtures of women's groups that had previously worked for different causes. Temperance groups, which had previously fought against the problems caused by alcohol use, joined with women's social welfare groups and suffragists to work together for the right to vote. In 1914, the National Women's Party was formed from the earlier groups.

Suffragists held parades to let more people know what was going on. The first suffrage parade was held in New York City in 1910. Another parade was held in Washington, DC, in 1913, on the day President Wilson was inaugurated. In 1917, The National Women's Party picketed the White House. Alice Paul led that group of women. Ninety-six of them were arrested and jailed for "obstructing traffic." They continued their protest in jail by going on a hunger strike.

TOOLBOX

Progressive Era: a time of change and progress that occurred in the early 1900s

Seneca Falls Convention: the first women's rights convention held in July of 1848 that declared that women were entitled to equal rights under the law as citizens of the United States

National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA): a political group that worked to gain equal rights for women

Susan B. Anthony: one of the most famous women's rights activists and leader of the NAWSA

lobbyists: someone hired by a business or a cause to persuade legislators to support that business or cause

coalitions: a group of people or countries who have joined together to achieve a common purpose

civil disobedience: refusal to obey laws as a way of forcing the government to do or change something

temperance groups: groups that worked to make the sell of alcohol illegal

suffragists: people who worked to get voting rights for people who did not have them

Alice Paul: the suffragist that led the National Women's Party that picketed the White House in 1917

National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage: a group that formed in 1911 to fight the suffragists because they opposed granting women the right to vote

The 19th Amendment: the law that gave women the right to vote in 1920

Around the World

Nurses in World War I

During these years, our country was involved in World War I. Women played a large part in the war effort, as nurses and in many other roles. Their contributions to the war also helped show the people that women were important citizens too.

During this time, some states and territories had begun to grant women the right to vote, but not the country as a whole. Meanwhile, women in many other countries were winning their own right to vote. New Zealand women gained the right to vote in 1893. Women won the right to vote in Australia in 1902. Canada, Austria, Denmark, Czechoslovakia, Ireland, Scotland, and others followed.

The Opposition

Still, many people in the US opposed making women's suffrage the law of the land. A group called the National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage was formed in 1911 to fight the suffragists. This group, and others that opposed granting women the right to vote, were well organized and well funded too. People who were opposed to women's voting rights used the term "suffragettes" to make fun of the women who were campaigning for their rights. Cartoons in magazines and newspapers and on postcards tried to make the women look foolish.

The Win

Celebrating the passing of the 19th Amendment

The struggle for the right to vote was not an easy one. It had taken a long time, but, finally, in 1920, the battle was over. The 19th Amendment to the Constitution was passed. It declared that women did have the right to vote. By this time, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and nearly all of the other women from the Seneca Falls Convention had passed away. They had not lived to see their dream come true. One woman from that convention, Charlotte Woodward, was still living in 1920. At the age of 81, she voted for the first time.

WHOLE GROUP ACTIVITY
Understanding Concepts

DIRECTIONS: In this activity, we will discuss the answers to the following questions:

Where and when did women first publicly discuss that they were entitled to equal rights under the law as citizens of the United States?
What was the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA)?
Who was the famous women's rights activist and leader of the NAWSA?
Who are people hired by a business or a cause to persuade legislators to support that business or cause?
What term is used for a group of people join together to achieve a common purpose?
What strategy did suffragettes use when they refused to obey laws so that the government would pass laws allowing women to vote?
Who was the suffragist that led the National Women's Party that picketed the White House in 1917?
What group formed in 1911 to fight the suffragists because they opposed granting women the right to vote?
What law finally gave women the right to vote in 1920?
What word in the reading (not in the toolbox) would you deduce means - an individual who expresses their ideas by getting involved and taking action?

SMALL GROUP ACTIVITY
Form Your Own Opinion

DIRECTIONS: In this activity, we will watch the video clip below together. Then, in your small groups you will discuss what it is the actor is performing and what it is that she is saying. After the video, you will have 5 minutes to prepare and be ready to discuss your answer with the class.

INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY
Exit Pass

DIRECTIONS: In this activity you answer prove that you have met the Lesson Mission by answering the essential question of the lesson. Please complete the exit pass below. This question is worth 10 points and is graded for accuracy. You MAY use the reading and any notes you took.

HOMEWORK
Finish the Lesson and Family Time

Remember, you have homework every night in Social Studies. First, share with your family what you learned in class today. Second, review your exit pass response to each lesson and the lesson vocabulary to help you study for the test.

END OF THE UNIT 4 LESSON 4 MODULE
Making Up This Lesson

If you missed today and need to make up this lesson, simply read today's text under Whole Group Activity, Guided Reading and answer the Exit Pass Question on paper and turn it into the turn in tray on my kidney table. Remember it is taken for a grade and is worth 10 points.