Part 3: Proud to be a Woman, Proud to be a WIFE November 4, 2008

The final VOTING HURRAH for all the wives and WOMEN that fought for our right to VOTE! If you haven’t voted get to the polls. Don’t let your husband carry his political voice for you and him, speak your own! I know my husband voted for one presidential candidate and I voted for the other. We may have canceled each other out but everyone is different that is why you vote individually!

Let us look back, in history, for the final time this week, at what women did for us to get VOTING VICTORY!  

Although women were seeing progress in early January of 1918, the tides quickly turned and instead of fighting small battles they were in a full fledged Women Voting Rights war!

 

Late summer of 1918 picketing and protesting women were arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced to 10 to 15 days in old District workhouse; and although President Wilson asked the senate to pass the Federal Women Suffrage Amendment on September 30, 1918 it was defeated by two votes on October 1st. It was defeated for a second time by one vote February 10, 1919.

 

After more picketing, protests, arrests and hunger strikes from the prison cells did our fighting women get a break, on June 4, 1919 the Senate finally passed the Federal Women Suffrage Amendment and the National Women’s Party began their campaign to obtain ratification of the 19th Amendment by 36 state legislatures (three-fourths majority is required).

The first two states to ratify the 19th Amendment were Michigan and Wisconsin, and twenty more followed before the end of the year. By August 26th, 1920 the 19th Amendment becomes law and for the first time November 2, 1920 women are allowed to vote.

PART 2: Proud to be a Woman, Proud to be a WIFE! November 4, 2008

Happy ELECTION “WIFE” DAY! Today is a day all women should be proud! History will be made and it is so exciting we have a chance to be a part of it. Conversations all day long have been filled with political ambition and expectations! Everyone has a voice and everyone wants to be heard! Continuing from yesterday, we are looking back on the amazing progress women have made in our history with the “vote”!

 

However, before we look back, let’s look forward! If you haven’t been to the polls to vote, GO! If you can not remember where you are registered to vote, visit your secretary of state homepage to find out more. Many of them have easy links to search for your poll location.

 

On January 12, 1915, the House of Representatives votes for the FIRST TIME on the federal woman suffrage amendment. However, the end result is defeat.  Hope is not lost; by the end of the year in 1915, a procession of 2,000 women arrive in Washington, D.C. to the US Capital for reception by congressional deputation. Again the Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment is introduced to the House of Representatives.

And the very next day, after their arrival, the Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment is introduced to the senate.

Progress is slow but the fight is not ending. The first suffrage “picket line” forms outside the Congressional Union Headquarter to march to the White House gates January 10, 1917. The momentum continues as the “Grand Picket” marches around the White House March 4, 1917 on the night of President Wilson’s second inauguration. 

 

Two more moments of success come in April. April 2, the Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment is reintroduced in the House of Representatives with a woman in the for-front. Jeannette Rankin of Montana is the first woman elected to Congress and formally joins the House. Two days later, on April 4, the Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment is reintroduced in the Senate.

Historically, following the numerous pickets and protests, the first women to serve time for their suffrage activities took play on June 27, 1917. Six women were sentenced to three days in jail, which were only the first of 168 other women to serve time for their actions.

And finally a break, November 6, 1917, New York becomes the first eastern state granting women the right to vote. This change in New York lead to many others. January 9, 1918 President Wilson publicly declares support for the Federal Women Suffrage Amendment and on January 10 the House of Representatives passes the amendment by two-thirds majority!

 

The battle is long from over and the fight is becoming stronger. For the remainder of 1918 and most of 1919, women continue to fight. More to come.

PART 1: Proud to be a Woman, Proud to be a WIFE! November 3, 2008

Many, many wives will grace the poll lines tomorrow to exercise their right to VOTE. As a curious wife, I love researching how it all began! The women and wives before us were amazing and powerful! They were fearless, boisterous and in current day terms a little sassy! Being it is “election week” We continue to look back this on women and wives who made history fighting for our rights!

So where did our freedom to cast our vote begin? It started many many years ago. In 1910 a woman named Alice Pauladdressed the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) annual convention taking place in Washington, D.C. A feisty and women freedom fighting individual, she eventually was appointed chairman of NAWAS’s Congressional Committee in December of 1912.

March 3, 1913 a national suffrage parade (held in Washington, D.C.), took place . The parade was designed to put immediate pressure on the president-elect to support suffrage cause. More than 8,000 individuals participated in the parade, which was led by attorney Inez Milholland Boissevain astride a white horse. The parade led to Alice Paul and four other women meeting with  President Woodrow Wilson to argue suffrage cause.

July 31, 1913 automobile tours convene in Hyattsville, Maryland. After weeks of collecting suffrage petitions nationwide, participants met with 80 some cars to proceed to Washingtion, D.C. to present petitions to Congress. When the discussion of the petitions comes up later in the day on the Senate floor, twenty-three senators speak for suffrage amendment, and 3 against.

This WIFE will VOTE! November 1, 2008

Oh this wife is going to vote and I hope you exercise your right to vote on Tuesday, November 4th! Before we get carried away with all the details in this upcoming election, shall we look back? Being a wife truly is a privilege and an honor; however being a woman is an even bigger one! As a woman, you should be nearly tickled pink at the advancements women have made in this world when it comes to politics.

 

This year we have had the unique opportunity to watch Hillary Clinton light up our TV’s, radio’s and newspapers as a nearly successful candidate for the democratic party. Although she did not make the final cut, she certainly showed girls and women of all ages, it can be done!

Some will argue she was the FIRST woman to run for president but did you know that actually already happened some 100 years ago? Victoria Woodhull, born in 1838 in Homer, Ohio, was selected by the Equal Rights Party to be its candidate in the 1872 Presidential Election. (She did however lose to fellow Ohioan Ulysses S. Grant, who was reelected to a second term). WOW! You go girl! I am sure Victoria would be rather impressed with the advancements women have made!

Keep checking back, up until election night, the posts will continue to reflect on women (especially those who were also wives) who have made an impact on our voting rights!