Beginning of Women's Suffrage
in America
by Jeff Provine
Author
says: what if the struggle for women's rights were part of the American
Revolution? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not
necessarily reflect the views of the author(s).
On March 12th 1776,
in Baltimore, Maryland, newspapers made recognition of the fairer sex,
which would be much needed as the troubles with the mother country became
increasingly violent.
A blurb noted, "The necessity of taking all imaginable care of those who
may happen to be wounded in the country's cause, urges us to address our
humane ladies, to lend us their kind assistance in furnishing us with
linen rags and old sheeting, for bandages". As the newspapers came out
early, posted bills Please click the
icon to follow us on Facebook.appeared that evening reading, "Our
country's cause for liberty includes us all", reiterating the need for
women to help as well as noting that men would need to share their liberty
when granted. The appeal for aid would be crucial to the American war
effort as well as to the quick pace of suffrage for women in the
soon-to-be independent colonies.
Over the course of the Revolutionary War, women did aid in many ways such
as tending to farms and businesses while men were gone to war, collecting
supplies, tending to the wounded, and even participating in battle. Molly
Pitcher, the nickname for who is believed to be Mary Hays, aided her
husband during the darkest days of Valley Forge and even assisted in
firing the cannon when he collapsed at the Battle of Monmouth. Thomas
Paine (whom many began to suspect was merely making his name and fortune
by writing fiery notions) produced a companion to his popular The Crisis
entitled The Warm Hearth to encourage the home front as he had the
soldiers. He wrote, "These are the times that try women's souls: The
harvest wife and sunshine sweetheart will, in this crisis, shrink from the
service of their country; but she that stands it now, deserves the love
and thanks of man and woman". He was much criticized for holding women in
an esteem that would not be seen commonly in England until the late
Victorian Era, but the bold voice was echoed by women throughout the
Revolution, notably Abigail Adams as she wrote to her husband.
It would be the words of Abigail Adams that would finally assure a
permanent political voice for American women. She had written her husband
during the Continental Congress that she longed for a declaration of
independence and, "�by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it
will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would remember the ladies
and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors". The words
would seemingly fall under blind eyes in 1776, but in 1787, at the
Constitutional Convention, they would be reiterated along with the demands
of thousands of women for the vote. Interestingly, the reason Mr. Adams
attended was that he had been passed over for Minister to Britain in favor
of Thomas Paine, whose growing fame among the womenfolk had made him
irksome to many in Congress and wanted him more distant.
Men at the Congress were not so certain. Along with the cries for
recognition were the knowing nods of conservatism, fearing what pure
democracy could do to a country legally torn apart by the mob (as would be
seen some years later in the French Revolution). Finally, however, Abigail
would write to John about the issue of the three-fifth compromise with the
struggles for the South to get representation for their population while
having slaves unable to vote. Women were allowed to vote in some of the
states; for example, Lydia Taft of Massachusetts had won her vote in a
town all meeting after the deaths of her husband and son left her the head
of the family, and New Jersey listed the only restriction on general
suffrage to be possessing only fifty pounds in cash or property. Mrs.
Adams noted that if voting rights were expanded in the North with its
largely Federalist leaning, they would gain an advantage on popular
referenda.
Adams skillfully weaved the point into the discussion in the convention
and later Constitution when the Fourth Amendment in the Bill of Rights
provided for universal suffrage dependent upon property. Many local laws
had already changed to be more welcoming of women, and the national
consensus finally included the voice of women. Many famous ladies would
speak up for rights, such as Representatives Frances Wright in 1840. The
first female United States Senator, Elizabeth Caddy Stanton, would be
instrumental in legislation that would solve the slavery question by
gradual emancipation with reimbursement to masters after instilling legal
requirements for humane treatment. During the latter part of the
nineteenth century, many women in the federal government would be praised
for their works of social reform, though they would also be criticized for
limiting America's potential in expansionism, particularly in the cases of
independence retained to new territories in the Philippines, Hawaii, Cuba,
and Nicaragua.
Author
says in reality women's suffrage was an unheard matter in the
Revolution, despite examples of general suffrage such as in New Jersey
(which illegally amended its laws to be limited to men in 1809). The
struggle would continue over a century through lectures and conferences such
as the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848. Finally, in 1920, the Nineteenth
Amendment stated, "The right of citizens of the United States to vote are
not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of
sex". To view guest historian's comments on this post please visit the
Today in Alternate History web site.
Jeff Provine, Guest Historian of
Today in Alternate History, a Daily Updating Blog of Important Events In
History That Never Occurred Today. Follow us on
Facebook,
Squidoo, Myspace and
Twitter.
Imagine what would be, if history had occurred a bit
differently. Who says it didn't, somewhere? These fictional news items
explore that possibility. Possibilities such as America becoming a Marxist
superpower, aliens influencing human history in the 18th century and Teddy
Roosevelt winning his 3rd term as president abound in this interesting
fictional blog.

Sitemetre
"Beginning of Women's Suffrage
in America" by Jeff Provine
Author
says: what if the struggle for women's rights were part of the American
Revolution? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not
necessarily reflect the views of the author(s).
On March 12th 1776,
in Baltimore, Maryland, newspapers made recognition of the fairer sex,
which would be much needed as the troubles with the mother country became
increasingly violent.
A blurb noted, "The necessity of taking all imaginable care of those who
may happen to be wounded in the country's cause, urges us to address our
humane ladies, to lend us their kind assistance in furnishing us with
linen rags and old sheeting, for bandages". As the newspapers came out
early, posted bills Please click the
icon to follow us on Facebook.appeared that evening reading, "Our
country's cause for liberty includes us all", reiterating the need for
women to help as well as noting that men would need to share their liberty
when granted. The appeal for aid would be crucial to the American war
effort as well as to the quick pace of suffrage for women in the
soon-to-be independent colonies.
Over the course of the Revolutionary War, women did aid in many ways such
as tending to farms and businesses while men were gone to war, collecting
supplies, tending to the wounded, and even participating in battle. Molly
Pitcher, the nickname for who is believed to be Mary Hays, aided her
husband during the darkest days of Valley Forge and even assisted in
firing the cannon when he collapsed at the Battle of Monmouth. Thomas
Paine (whom many began to suspect was merely making his name and fortune
by writing fiery notions) produced a companion to his popular The Crisis
entitled The Warm Hearth to encourage the home front as he had the
soldiers. He wrote, "These are the times that try women's souls: The
harvest wife and sunshine sweetheart will, in this crisis, shrink from the
service of their country; but she that stands it now, deserves the love
and thanks of man and woman". He was much criticized for holding women in
an esteem that would not be seen commonly in England until the late
Victorian Era, but the bold voice was echoed by women throughout the
Revolution, notably Abigail Adams as she wrote to her husband.
It would be the words of Abigail Adams that would finally assure a
permanent political voice for American women. She had written her husband
during the Continental Congress that she longed for a declaration of
independence and, "�by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it
will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would remember the ladies
and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors". The words
would seemingly fall under blind eyes in 1776, but in 1787, at the
Constitutional Convention, they would be reiterated along with the demands
of thousands of women for the vote. Interestingly, the reason Mr. Adams
attended was that he had been passed over for Minister to Britain in favor
of Thomas Paine, whose growing fame among the womenfolk had made him
irksome to many in Congress and wanted him more distant.
Men at the Congress were not so certain. Along with the cries for
recognition were the knowing nods of conservatism, fearing what pure
democracy could do to a country legally torn apart by the mob (as would be
seen some years later in the French Revolution). Finally, however, Abigail
would write to John about the issue of the three-fifth compromise with the
struggles for the South to get representation for their population while
having slaves unable to vote. Women were allowed to vote in some of the
states; for example, Lydia Taft of Massachusetts had won her vote in a
town all meeting after the deaths of her husband and son left her the head
of the family, and New Jersey listed the only restriction on general
suffrage to be possessing only fifty pounds in cash or property. Mrs.
Adams noted that if voting rights were expanded in the North with its
largely Federalist leaning, they would gain an advantage on popular
referenda.
Adams skillfully weaved the point into the discussion in the convention
and later Constitution when the Fourth Amendment in the Bill of Rights
provided for universal suffrage dependent upon property. Many local laws
had already changed to be more welcoming of women, and the national
consensus finally included the voice of women. Many famous ladies would
speak up for rights, such as Representatives Frances Wright in 1840. The
first female United States Senator, Elizabeth Caddy Stanton, would be
instrumental in legislation that would solve the slavery question by
gradual emancipation with reimbursement to masters after instilling legal
requirements for humane treatment. During the latter part of the
nineteenth century, many women in the federal government would be praised
for their works of social reform, though they would also be criticized for
limiting America's potential in expansionism, particularly in the cases of
independence retained to new territories in the Philippines, Hawaii, Cuba,
and Nicaragua.
Author
says in reality women's suffrage was an unheard matter in the
Revolution, despite examples of general suffrage such as in New Jersey
(which illegally amended its laws to be limited to men in 1809). The
struggle would continue over a century through lectures and conferences such
as the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848. Finally, in 1920, the Nineteenth
Amendment stated, "The right of citizens of the United States to vote are
not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of
sex". To view guest historian's comments on this post please visit the
Today in Alternate History web site.
Jeff Provine, Guest Historian of
Today in Alternate History, a Daily Updating Blog of Important Events In
History That Never Occurred Today. Follow us on
Facebook,
Squidoo, Myspace and
Twitter.
Imagine what would be, if history had occurred a bit
differently. Who says it didn't, somewhere? These fictional news items
explore that possibility. Possibilities such as America becoming a Marxist
superpower, aliens influencing human history in the 18th century and Teddy
Roosevelt winning his 3rd term as president abound in this interesting
fictional blog.

Sitemetre
 |