Woman Suffrage Dbq

Opening Statement: For many centuries, women have been the backbone and caretaker the families of the United States. The maxim “behind every great man, there is a great woman” illustrates the critical role women have within society. Anti-suffragists believe women should focus on their maternal role and exercise their influence and reform through other means – through the example of her behaviour and service of men. However, it is clear that women deserve the right to vote because it is their constitutional right based on the fifteenth amendment, would increase social reform and awareness throughout the country, and is morally just in order to create a true “democratic society”.

Source Documents:

“As A War Measure - Woman Suffrage”

Speaker:

Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association
Audience: Connecticut state legislatures and all males throughout the state and country
Purpose: This excerpt has a multi-faceted purpose.
The Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association argues that women have been given suffrage in numerous countries and in several states in this Union, and partial suffrage in nearly all civilized countries such as France and Italy.
Men have denied women their right to vote because they said women are not called to serve the state; however, during past wars, the government have been called to help in factories, in the production of food, aid fallen heroes as nurses and medical assistants, and more importantly, give their sons to the cause.
Women are responding to the government’s call to serve and they are eager to serve their country. It is unjust to deny a group of people who have been so dedicated to their country because of an anatomical difference.
2. “Who Shares the Cost of War?”
Speaker: Women Suffragist Activists
Audience: Male state legislatures and the American government
Purpose: This flyer has multiple arguments that support why women should have the right to vote through rhetorical questions.
Women face death when giving life to men, raise and love their sons who are sent to battle, provide stability and education to the family, nursed the wounded and brave, and suffer during wars.

OIK + Arguments:

Women must obey the laws of the constitution and pay taxes just as men o; thus, women should have a right to determine the laws that govern them. Constitutionally, every citizen has the right to “taxation with representation”; this right is being violated as women are not being represented despite still being subjected to laws.
Women are considered a large part of the family and often influence the behavior, stability, and health of the family.

Similarly, the government is a large family with both sexes. Thus, women should be represented in their large “government family” just as they are in their personal family.

Intellectually, women have the capacity to engage in critical thinking and recognize large political implications. For example, Marion Talbot was the dean of the highly respect University of Chicago. Charlotte Perkins Gilman also expanded on the role of female subordination throughout medical journals across the country.

Women have been given suffrage in numerous countries and in several states in this Union, and partial suffrage in nearly all civilized countries. For example, women in highly civilized countries such as Great Britain and France have the right to vote. Clearly, these countries are prosperous and expanding everyday, now at an even faster rate because of women.

As of 1911, 5 million women are wage earners and their health is endangered by working conditions that can only be regulated by legislature; so far, men have been incapable in terms of recognizing this fact and providing proper legislature to protect their own wives, daughters, and

mothers.
Women are better morally. For example, in California during 1911, over 3000 men were locked up opposed to 30 women. Case courses and penitentiary rates across the country have similar ratios of male convicts to female convicts; thus, women deserve the right to vote because they promote honesty and integrity throughout the community more so than men.
It is argued that women do not wish to vote; however, this same argument can be made for men. On election day, many mend send large conveyances to cast their ballot; apathy is common amongst men. Thousands upon thousands of women support the suffrage movement, as opposed to the very select few of women who do not. Women are also more likely to exercise their right to vote because it affirms their status in society.
If women are given the right to vote, a larger voter turnout would occur because there are more eligible voters who are willing to vote. Thus, unworthy candidates would be omitted and more comprehensive legislation would occur.
Women who are active in public affairs are not less womanly; on the contrary, they are more interesting, helpful, and compassionate because they have a common interest with their sons and husbands.

Questions

How can a society truly be democratic and representative of all the country’s people if it excludes the opinions of a major part of the population?

Many anti-suffragist activists suggest that women do not need to be politically active in order for change to occur. How is it then that millions of women work in terrible conditions and yet, little regulation exists to protect women? If men don’t legally protect women, who will?

Many women serve the government through medical assistants, the preservation and production of food, and allowing their sons to go to war. If women serve their government just as men do, why are they not afforded the same privileges?

Racism persists throughout America and yet, African Americans still have the right to vote. Why have men allowed African Americans,the right to vote and not their own wives?

If men consider politics to be such a bad place for women, why are men not representing their wives’ interests and instead creating

corruption?