Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Women's Franchise in America

Since mid 1800s, women in America had been fighting for their right to vote. One of the primary proponents and fighters of their cherished dream was Susan B. Anthony. Many in contemporary America of early 20th century argued against giving women any political rights. The common reason given - Male are made to bring home bacon and women belonged to home.

Reasons given against Women's Suffrage could be as silly as - Women if allowed to vote would argue with their husbands (It's another matter, arguably in 21st century the voting wives have still not relinquished their hobby of arguing with their hubbies).

Like many turning points in history, sheer fate rather than anything revolutionary, in the form cataclysmic World War I accelerated the path towards women's voting rights. At the height of the War the Europeans were busy in destroying their  industries and infrastructure. America a late entrant into the war, did what they do best, doing big business by using the hungry Europe as a market for their products. Job demand in US sore up, bringing women out of home, to the job market.

In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson said "We have made women partners in this war. Shall we admit them only to a partnership of suffering, sacrifice and toil and not to a partnership of right ?"

In 1919, Congress passed the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, giving women right to vote. But 1920, enough states in United States ratified it into law. After ages of suffering, began the Age of Woman Suffrage in America. Nearly a century later, Hillary Clinton could be the first Woman President of the United States.

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