Womens Suffrage Movement in United States - Research Paper Example

Women’s Suffrage Movement in United s Dating from as far as the year 1848, women in America decided to put an end to their afflictions, by forming several movements. That is when the movement like the women suffrage aroused. These movements brought about change, even though it faced a lot of challenges from those who were against, especially politicians of that time. Change touched several issues for instance the entire social system of the United State faced some change, the political arena and duty sharing on the ground of sex. Basically, women were fighting to rescue themselves from what they termed as oppressions from the male. With the desire and positive attitude, they had, plus the strong personality of the leaders, the movement “women suffrage in United States”, witnessed a success that would be thought to be a difficult phenomenon for women. However, today women in the federal government of the United States are enjoying the struggle of other women, who pioneered for their freedom. The bill concerning the right to vote is a proof. In this essay, the struggle for the women suffrage movement is analyzed to a certain considerable degree. Introduction The fight for women reforms commenced in the year 1848. This occurred prior to the women rights convention, which took place in Seneca Falls near New York. According to the article (women suffrage in America) by Curry, it is pertinent to note that the supporters of women suffrage decided to educate the public about the validation of women suffrage. This was a fifty-year plan for knowledge instillation in women. Having illustrated that it is right to illustrate that this essay will outlines the impact of women movement on political, cultural, and economical aspects of the United States on its society (Han 71). A bit of history affirms that the movement had to climb some huddles in achieving their goals. First, as any other movement, this women movement faced several challenges, and since their effort was to move ahead, they formulated a way out. One of their challenges was that, the movement faced was opposition from the politicians, where according to the article (women movement), they faced unwillingness from the politicians. Thus, they had to navigate and make their ends meet by creating the means of countering it (Rosenfeld and Kathryn 258). They fought to win the right to vote (Knappman and Kathryn 130). Due to this reason, suffrage became a mass movement. It follows that the movement had a broad spectrum of goals. However, they thought it better to narrow down on solely securing the franchise for women. Thus, they geared up their fight by the use of political influence. They went ahead to empower or rather to equip the women with political knowledge, form those who were the early pioneers. It is for this reason that up to date; this movement is still in existence. They understand the political path of the United States, and this is what made them attain their goals. According to history, it is wise to note that the pioneer gathering whose aim was to devote women rights in the U S occurred in 1848. Here, the principle organizers were Quaker who was an abolitionist and Elizabeth Candy who at that time was a mother of four from the upstate. With two thirds being women, the gathering declared their sentiments, resolutions, and grievances that pointed on the independent declaration. It is pertinent from the above that this movement had a big influence on the political aspects of the United States. In addition, the women reformers also addressed the phenomenon of institutional as well as social barriers, which was a limitation to women (Willis 123). Some of the addressed issue touched the aspects of family responsibilities, lack of economic and educational opportunities, and they need to have said in the political debates. In doing this, they strove to challenge their male counterparts in order to gain access to various opportunities equitably. It is noted today that, this movement has so far played a vital part in influencing women in the American society today. There are some points that touch the heart of the message as below. One, these reforms according to the experts is a signification of revolutionary and radical change in the completely social system. At present, society is constituted upon the family as the pivotal social unit. On the other hand, the state is actually not an individual’s aggregation rather an organism, of which the family acts as an integral part. Now, having noted that, the key concern behind the suffrage of the women movement is that, according to experts, it is an aspect that tries to disassociate family. Further, the movement affirms that marriage is simply a co partnership. This movement tries to alter the nature and strategy of family in a unique manner. Another pertinent factor to consider when it comes to women suffrage is that, this movement is formulated based on the false theory of political and civil rights. It is imperative that some people support the existence of this movement whereas others do not. Notably, the movement illustrates that the so-called women rights movement should be analyzed and weighed carefully. This is because those who opposed affirm that there is no single person who has the power over nature. Alternatively, no one should have power over the political rights. It is important to acknowledge that God grounds the natural rights. Further, there are claims that are asserted by nature in the name of the almighty for fulfilling its end in truth. The scholars argue that rights are always a commensuration and correlation of duties. Moreover, no one has the ability to reverse the phenomenon of nature according to the movement. If the above is not enough, still the contests of this movement argue that the women suffrage grounds upon a false radicalization of the concept of the duties and relations of the sexes. Therefore, they affirm that the movement should not move on with these wrong and misleading perceptions. However, as much as this movement has been in the fight for its existence, the truth of the matter is that those who are offending or rather, who are against this movement should, are trying to pin down what seems to be a threat to them. It is equally important to understand that many people especially politicians were against this movement with the hidden agenda, for their own benefit. This is because the movement relied upon their argument on the right to vote. Consequently, they went ahead and managed to conquer their opponents by gaining access to vote. This movement managed to attain what they eagerly needed, which is the right of United States’ citizen to vote. Where they made it possible all individuals to be allowed to vote, a thing that was not in action during the previous times. The only disappointing point is that after the convention held at Seneca, which paved the way by demanding the rights of the women suffrage. Here, it is noted that the Americans rejected it because people were not flexible for change. In other words, people did not want the already working system of the United States to change. For them to do that, the only option was to reject the demands of the movement. The native argued that women had an already established role in the local affairs (The CWLU herstory archive, 251). According to the passage above, it is clear that many Americans were against women’s suffrage. However, statistics indicate that the movement brought about change in favor of equality. After which, it related political reforms and related social reforms and the movement resulted to many key events. These events permitted women to enact social change. One of the noted changes in this movement was the right to vote as stated above. This is because, as much as women’s right were ended on one phase, the stage for securing women a measure of power in both the national and local political offices was aroused. Therefore, women were happy again that through this movement they would be considered for government plum jobs. The scholars debated on whether the women’s movement went through a fundamental change, or the movement sustained the continuity in the previous years. Now having seen how different personality especially the use scholars and researchers have reacted on this issue of the suffrage movement, the next thing to evaluate is its effect in the United States. One it is noted that this suffrage movement caused a social effect. With social effect, it is noted that this movement created a higher women expectation. This is because; women were made to effectively access collage by early 20th century. With this, they were able to train as professionals although not at par in numbers as the men. After which, they enter a profession that was referred to as men dominated profession, for instance the medicine, law, corporate and clergy. Further, the movement cause economic influence. This is because the suffrage of women movement increased in society. This is because, due to increased educational opportunities, women were made to more and more sense their potential for careers that were meaningful. This also geared up the women’s salary, though not to the level of men. As much as women were still under men, the truth of the matter is that to them, it was a huge success. Another achievement of impact of the suffrage movement was the political aspect. Women were motivated with the fact that they got liability to vote. Thus, they geared up the fight for their efforts, and hence after several struggle, they were given a chance to successfully vote. According to research, it is evident that by 1890s, numerous States had granted suffrage. Tabulations indicate that by 1913, almost twelve states had granted suffrage (Franzen, 25). This made it possible for the women movements to climb up the market ladder. As a result, women gave the country pertinent support, for instance during the world war one, women gave a helping hand. It followed that this gave the decisive power to suffragists. At some point, the suffragists gave women the power to have a measure or rather a share of the office of the republic of the US. These are some of the impacts of the suffrage movement in the United States. This began tentatively in 1920, and gradually developed to gain power and strength over years. It is because of this movement that many women hold prestigious offices in the federal government now. It is noteworthy that even though women were still and are still underestimated by men, they have come a long way. The movement has scooped this positive feedback so far even though many were against it. Analysis Women’s suffrage and women’s movement can be compared in one way or another to the consequence of the women rights movement. This shows that the social and the economic effects were similar even though the political effects were different. Socially and economically, it is asserted that both movements gained women more privileges and rights as others might say. The researchers confirm the women’s movement has enabled them achieve various economical aspects. This includes their ability to gain access to plum jobs in and outside the government. On the other hand, as for social, both the movement had the ability to help the society to understand or rather perceive women as strong individuals who work hard to attain their goals. On the contrary, the effects were actually different politically. Here, it is noted that the women rights movement gave women rights that were more of political, for instance the property rights. At the same time, it is encouraging to note that women’s suffrage movement achieved a greater amendment, which is also called the nineteenth amendment, which literally gave women the rights to cast their votes. The truth of the matter is that, both the movements were striving for the same thing; however, there were many differences between them (Knappman, and Kathryn 81). Summary It is true according statistics, during the 20th century; the American state underwent many changes, the suffrage movement being among the firm that initiated some of the changes. According to history, the movement suffrage in the United States dates as far back as revolutionary war. One reason behind this long live of the movement is that it had strong spear headers such as the Cady Elizabeth, Susan B, Stanton just to mention but a few. Its changes started making sense after the Seneca Falls, where the yelling for freedom to vote became extra- ordinary loud to be ignored. The outstanding and memorable thing that the suffrage geared into existence is the right to vote (Kay, and Douglas 58). Although it is disappointing to note that most of the spear-headers died before enjoying the right they fought for, that right is still a savior to many up to date. It is clear that this movement made the United States get a new and supportive face altogether. Therefore, those who remained can enjoy the freedom that their ancestors fought on their behalf. Although some of the politicians were against this movement, it is believed that they got some help from the same women during the first world war, and hence they agreed to give it a support and a path to their success although indirectly, but honorably. Conclusion Women suffrage has proved to be a path to the limelight for many United States women. Through this, they managed to get a bill for right to vote, which they are still enjoying up to now. Through this movement, women managed to get a chance of getting into the federal offices, as employees. Although under men, however, it is one of the noted achievements. Although the movement encountered opposition mostly from men, it eventually managed to maneuver its way of recognition through its strong touch bearers as Cady Elizabeth, Susan B, Stanton and many more (Harper 75). Generally, it is notable that the desire to challenge men, the desire to fight for their rights, and the desire to get a positive change made the women movement in the United States to arise and fight until the end. Although most of those who spear-headed the more celebrated bill like the right to vote has died, the bill itself is still a memory to the whole nation if not the world at large, since for any person who gets the access of a United States constitution, he or she will not fail to come across to this bill. In other words, the bill “the right to vote…”, has become part and parcel of the United States ‘ constitutional fact. Today, women are free to vote, and can freely do other pertinent things which were geared up by this movement and made legal in the U.S, although the pioneers are not alive. Work Cited Knappman, Elizabeth, and Kathryn, DuPont. Women's suffrage in America. Updated ed. New York: Facts on File, 2005. Print. Curry, Constance. Deep in our hearts: nine white women in the Freedom Movement. Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press, 2000. Print. Franzen, Trisha. "Singular Leadership: Anna Howard Shaw, Single Women And The US Woman Suffrage Movement." Women's History Review 17.3 (2008): 419-434. Print. Han, Lori Cox. Women & US politics: the spectrum of political leadership. 2nd ed. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2010. Print. Harper, Ida Husted. A brief history of the movement for woman suffrage in the United States. New York: National Woman Suffrage Pub. Co., 1919. Print. Kay, Susan Ann, and Douglas B. Meikle. "Political Ideology, Sociobiology, And Teh U.S. Women's Rights Movement." Women & Politics 3.2-3 (1983): 67-95. Print. Knappman, Elizabeth, and Kathryn DuPont. Women's suffrage in America. Updated ed. New York: Facts On File, 2005. Print. Rosenfeld, Rachel A., and Kathryn B. Ward. "The Contemporary U.S. Women's Movement: An Empirical Example Of Competition Theory." Sociological Forum 6.3 (1991): 471-500. Print. The CWLU herstory archive. Oak Park, IL: Chicago Women's Liberation Union, 1999. Print. "United States History - The Women's Movement." United States History - The Women's Movement. Version 123. London, 14 May 2008. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. . Willis, Katie. "Women's Movements in International Perspective: Latin America and Beyond. (Book Reviews).." Journal of Development Studies 1 Oct. 2002: 12. Print. Read More