Industrial Revolution Women's Suffrage Essay

Why The Industrial Revolution was the Beginning of Women’s Suffrage

The Industrial Revolution was a time of enormous change for women’s suffrage. Prior to the 1700s, women could only stay at home and do domestic work. They were defined by their household roles, completely dependent on men, had no legal identity apart from their husbands. Women couldn’t stand as candidates for Parliament and weren’t allowed to vote. The Industrial Revolution was the start of women independence, and it was the key factor in women rising from their subordinate positions to strive for equality of both races.

In the Industrial Revolution, textile mills and factories grew at an alarming rate, and women were needed in the workplace because there weren’t enough men

Susan B. Anthony is one example of an incredibly important figure in the fight for women’s suffrage. She once wrote to Elizabeth Cady Stanton that “We little dreamed when we began this contest that half a century later we would be compelled to leave the finish of the battle to another generation of women. But our hearts are filled with joy to know that they enter upon this task equipped with a college education, with business experience, with the freely admitted right to speak in public—all of which were denied to women 50 years ago." (Horner, Weisberg) In this quote, Anthony is telling us that in the beginning of her long fight for women’s rights, she believed that she would have to leave the battle of women’s suffrage for the future generation. Fortunately, through Anthony’s lengthy and problematic life advocating for a women’s right to vote, she won women all over the world the access to an education, business experience, and the right to speak freely in public. Anthony went around the country giving speeches and encouraging people to stand up for their rights. In February 1906, Susan B. Anthony made the last speech of her life, stating that “The fight must not cease; you must see that it does not stop… Failure is impossible.” (Horner, Weisberg) She was right, as it would turn out. Tens of thousands of people, emboldened by Anthony’s passion and belief, continued the movement for women’s suffrage that Susan B. Anthony had started. They continued to stage protests, parades, rallies, and speeches until, finally, on May 21, 1919, the 19th amendment was finally passed, giving women their right to vote. (Horner, Weisberg) Susan B. Anthony’s dream was, at last, fulfilled. Her contributions to women’s suffrage was insurmountable, and will forever be